Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Shelley Huff Joins SSB as EVP of Direct to Consumer and CEO of Tuft & Needle
May 6,
2020 by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry 
Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), the largest manufacturer and distributor of mattresses in North America, has announced the appointment of Shelley Huff as CEO of Tuft & Needle and EVP of Direct to Consumer (DTC) for SSB. Huff will assume the role effective July 1 and report to SSB Chairman and CEO David Swift.
Huff brings more than 15 years of experience in retail business and a passion for consumers and emerging trends in digital integration, building and leading high-performing teams and delivering financial results. She previously served as president and CEO of Hayneedle.com, a Walmart-owned online home furnishings retailer. Prior to her role with Hayneedle.com, she started and spent much of her career with Walmart, serving in a number of leadership roles across both Walmart U.S. and Walmart eCommerce.
In this newly broadened role, Huff will lead T&N as CEO while also serving as a critical member of SSB’s executive leadership team, overseeing the ongoing digital transformation of the total enterprise. She will be based in Phoenix where Tuft & Needle is headquartered.
“Shelley brings a unique perspective to both SSB and Tuft & Needle and will foster an even stronger connection between our Phoenix operations and Atlanta headquarters, helping our entire portfolio of brands become more consumer-facing,” said SSB chairman and CEO David Swift. “This appointment is a direct reflection of the important role of direct to consumer to our business— now more than ever—and also highlights how critical the Phoenix DTC team is to our future success.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Shelley to the Tuft & Needle and SSB family,” said JT Marino, co-founder of Tuft & Needle and chief disruption officer for SSB. “Nearly eight years ago, we started this company to bring high-quality products and an exceptional experience to customers. Her addition to the team will bring the strategy and perspective we need to continue this journey of digital and direct to consumer growth.”
In addition to her previous roles with Walmart, Huff also served as director of home for J.C. Penney & Co. She earned her bachelor’s degree with a technology emphasis in retailing and consumer sciences from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her master’s degree from the Sam M. Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas.