Mattress Firm’s Board Appoints John Eck as President and CEO

May 28, 2019  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

"This is the perfect time for John Eck to join Mattress Firm. We have a great opportunity to build on the strong foundation and momentum of a successful turnaround with focus on several high-priority initiatives," said a representative of the Mattress Firm Board. 

"The management team is intensely focused on driving continued performance during the busy summer season. John will support them in those efforts while evolving the organization to deliver a seamless customer experience across all channels. He is a transformational leader who has a unique ability to navigate highly dynamic industries and unite teams around a common vision that modernizes the company. The board is confident in John's ability to set a strategic roadmap and execute against it," added the representative. 

Eck's experience spans across multiple industries and disciplines including operating P&L leadership, finance, media and technology, operations, process, real estate, digital and business development. He most recently was a senior advisor and consultant for media and emerging technology platforms at Rockdale Partners. Previously he was at Univision Communications Inc., the leading Hispanic media company in the U.S., where he served as chief local media officer, responsible for UCI's 120 TV and Radio stations and related digital properties. He has been a member of the Cincinnati Bell Board of Directors since 2014, where he currently serves on the Audit Committee.  

Eck spent 28 years at GE in lighting, aviation, financial services and media, where he had a variety of leadership roles in finance, Six Sigma, and operations and technology. Additionally, Eck was appointed an officer of GE in 2004 and led the integration of NBC and Universal (combined revenues of ~$14B at the time) from due diligence to operational and cultural alignment. Eck was later named president, NBC Television Network and president, MediaWorks. He is credited with leading the operational transformation of NBCU's information, broadcast and production processes. 

"I am energized by the opportunity to join Mattress Firm and help shape its evolution into a customer-centric, innovative organization. I want to be part of a company where I believe the possibilities are limitless," said Eck. "Mattress Firm has incredible brand equity, a strong network of stores and distribution centers and tremendous potential. I look forward to working with the team and building a brand that customers look to first, last and always for a great night's sleep."