Pilgrim Furniture & Mattress City Announces Leadership Changes

December 28, 2021  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

After a 40-year span, former President Mike Albert is moving into a new role as CEO. Taking his place as president is Steve Bichunsky, a 20-year veteran of the company. In addition, David Bassett will move into a senior vice president role, Amy Albert is now the new chief financial officer, and Tim Doyle has been named vice president, general manager. 

Pilgrim was founded in 1961 by Jay Albert. His son Mike Albert became president in 1981. Now Steve Bichunsky takes over day to day operation responsibilities. “Our business has never been healthier,” said Albert. “Our brand has never had as much awareness and interest as it does in today’s retail environment.” Albert will transition from day to day operations into an executive management role.

“Steve Bichunsky has been Pilgrim’s director of purchasing for the past 20 years,” added Albert. “He has spent his whole career in a management capacity within the furniture industry. We are confident that Steve will seamlessly take over the role of President and continue our brand’s success.”

For more than 60 years, Pilgrim has been a locally owned business that supports the Hartford/Bridgeport community as an employer, a home furnishings resource, and a solid corporate citizen. These new transitions are setting the stage for continued brand development and fiscal management.

“Pilgrim is locally owned, Connecticut grown,” said Bishunsky. “We have sold furniture and mattresses to a good percentage of the homes in this market and we are positioned to continue that success for the next 60 years.”

Bassett has been in Pilgrim’s management team for the past 15 years. Before Pilgrim Furniture City, he spent most of his career in sales management for Lane Furniture in the New England region.

Amy Albert will be expanding her financial responsibilities in her new role as chief financial officer. She has been with Pilgrim for 14 years helping direct the financial office. 

Doyle’s role with Pilgrim has been elevated to vice president and general manager. He has been effectively managing on-site sales teams at both Pilgrim Furniture City superstores for the past 4 years.

Pilgrim was named National Furniture Retailer of The Year and operates two 90,000+ square foot furniture and mattress superstore operations in Connecticut; the original store in Southington, the other in Milford.