Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Bassett Furniture Promotes Seven Executives Across Company
April 21,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
Bassett Furniture Industries is promoting seven executives in sales, marketing and product development and having them report to its consumer products leader Tony Chivari who has been named executive vice president of sales and marketing. He will lead the company’s retail and wholesale organizations, as well as marketing and product development.
A seasoned marketing executive, Chivari is a veteran of several consumer products companies including Spiegel, Inc., Things Remembered and 1-800 Flowers.com. He joined Bassett in 2024 as senior vice president and chief marketing officer after working as a consultant for Bassett focused on digital marketing and e-commerce initiatives. Since then, he has led a comprehensive review of the company’s brand strategy across all media channels and leveraged his deep understanding of omnichannel and strategic brand development to drive the company’s growth and market positioning. E-commerce sales have also increased dramatically as a result of his efforts.
“Tony possesses tremendous strategic and organizational skills, as well as a track record of building omnichannel revenue growth,” said Rob Spilman, Bassett’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Since joining our team he has made tremendous strides in our e-commerce sales and elevated our marketing efforts across all channels. He is well respected within our organization and will be a strong leader at the front end of our business.”
Reporting to Chivari are Nick Gee, Anne Spilman Souter, Robert Spilman, III, and Heather Petersen.
Currently senior vice president of Bassett Retail, Gee will be expanding his current responsibilities overseeing the performance of the 57 Bassett Home Furnishings corporate stores, to include oversight of the licensed Bassett Home Furnishings stores. Gee joined Bassett 27 years ago and has worked within the Bassett licensee network, as a regional manager and vice president of Bassett Retail.
Spilman Souter has been promoted to vice president of product development in addition to her current role as creative director and will work with the team to bring new products in brand enhancing formats to market. Prior to joining Bassett in 2020, she worked for design firms Circa, Inc., and Katie Ridder Designs, before ultimately founding Anne Spilman Designs in New York.
In his new role as vice president of sales, Robert Spilman, III, will assume responsibility for all wholesale sales of Bassett products outside of the Bassett stores. Working with Haynes King, vice president of dedicated distribution, Robert will oversee the sales rep organization and direct sales efforts in the Bassett Design Center and Bassett Custom Studio programs, as well as the interior design trade and the new Bassett Hospitality division. He was previously vice president of dedicated distribution.
Petersen has been promoted to vice president of marketing and e-commerce, responsible for the performance of bassettfurniture.com, as well as digital marketing efforts to drive traffic to the website and the stores. Joining Bassett in 2019, she previously held positions in digital commerce at Exclusively Weddings, VF Corporation and Kayser-Roth.
Manika Smith has been promoted to vice president retail merchandising with responsibility for store planning and visual merchandising, as well as the Bassett Accessory Program. She joined Bassett in 2024 following stints with The Walt Disney Company and Natuzzi S.p.a. She continues to report to Nick Gee.
“As we prepare to celebrate our 125th year in 2027, we are confident about our prospects for growth in the hands of our talented leadership team,” Spilman said. “They bring a varied set of experiences to the table that will ensure that Bassett continues to successfully compete in the industry’s complex landscape today and in the future.”
“Bassett is a well-respected, legacy brand that we are strengthening and growing to continue our leadership with a new generation of consumers and the way they shop. We are implementing our goals while also growing our existing relationships with our dealers and with our company-owned stores,” said Chivari.
Additionally, Tyler Bassett has been promoted to vice president financial planning and analysis and will report to Mike Daniel, chief financial officer.
Tyler Bassett previously served as vice president of customer experience technology, working on the re-platforming of bassettfurniture.com and the Bassett retail site. He worked for Red Hat, Inc., prior to joining Bassett in 2019.
The promotions follow several months of succession planning and the announcement that Bruce Cohenour, senior vice president and chief sales officer would retire at the end of May.
“Bruce has capably led our wholesale sales efforts for 15 years, as well as our licensed store network for the past seven,” Spilman said. “Highly respected by our dealer base and our independent representatives organization, we will miss him.”