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From Home Furnishing Business
Craftmaster CEO Roy Calcagne to Retire After 41-Year Furniture Industry Career
August 22,
2022 by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry 
Roy Calcagne, president and CEO of Craftmaster Furniture for the past 16 years, has announced he will retire from the company soon after the upcoming October furniture market in High Point.
During his tenure, he has led the company through several manufacturing expansions and significant sales growth since 2006, when Craftmaster was acquired by Samson Holdings.
Calcagne joined Samson Holdings Group in 2003 and launched Universal Furniture’s import upholstery program. Three years later, he oversaw the acquisition of Craftmaster and was named the company’s president and CEO.
Calcagne has spent 41 years in the furniture industry, starting his career at Bamberger’s/Macys department store in New Jersey and New York. He was the retailer’s upholstery buyer until 1994, when he joined Joan Fabrics in North Carolina and later Broyhill Furniture, where he was named vice president of manufacturing in 1999.
“It is with mixed emotions that I make this decision and move on to the next phase of life. I have thoroughly enjoyed every step of the way and have developed some wonderful friendships over the past 41 years. This industry is made up of a close-knit group of outstanding people from my co-workers, our customers, competitors and suppliers,” said Calcagne.
“I had the benefit and distinct pleasure to have worked on three sides of this great industry, from being a large retail buyer in New York, then in fabric sales in N.C. and lastly leading one of the best upholstery companies in the U.S. Now, I will enjoy more time with family and friends along with some bucket list travel plans,” he added.
A new president will be named shortly and Calcagne will remain CEO and work through a transition period with the new leader.
Samuel Kuo, the chairman of Samson Holdings said, “I wish to thank Roy for his leadership at Craftmaster and for the company’s outstanding performance and contribution to Samson Holdings for the past 16 years. It has been a pleasure working with him and watching the company grow to over 1 million square feet of manufacturing space and 750 associates.”