Scarsella steps down as Durham president, CEO
Wilson named president
Michael Knell -- Furniture Today, March 21, 2005
DURHAM, Ontario -- John Scarsella has stepped down as president and CEO of high-end case goods producer Durham Furniture. He will be succeeded as president by Steve Wilson, currently vice president of sales, who joined the company in that capacity just over a year ago.
Scarsella will remain on Durham’s board, to which he was appointed a year ago. He and his son, Michael, will focus on long-term strategy while continuing to spearhead product development and marketing efforts from their offices in Canfield, Ohio.
“This is the completion of a planned succession,” Scarsella said.
He began working with Durham in 1993 when his home furnishings marketing company, J. Scarsella & Associates, was retained exclusively by Orville Mead, the founder and then president of Durham, to revamp the company’s sales, marketing and product development divisions.
Scarsella created a marketing plan that shifted Durham’s focus to a niche-marketed, solid-wood specialist, a plan that has helped drive its substantial growth.
Following Mead’s death in 2002, Scarsella was appointed president and CEO.
“After Orville passed away, our board asked me to oversee the institution of a long-term company plan and the building of a succession team to carry out that plan,” he said. “That has been my focus over the past three years and things are in place. I am excited about the future of Durham Furniture and very proud of all that we have accomplished.”
During Scarsella’s tenure, Durham built a state-of-the-art case goods factory in nearby Chesley, Ontario, the first of its kind built in North America in over a decade. “That was definitely the right thing to do for the future of this company,” he said, adding the introduction of the Mount Vernon collection may be his single largest accomplishment.
That collection, licensed by the estate of George Washington, will be the cornerstone of Durham’s product development for the next decade. “Since we showed the first few pieces last October, dealer acceptance has been overwhelming,” Scarsella said. The roll-out will continue at the High Point market next month.
In his return to his former role in product development and marketing, Scarsella will continue to work closely with Durham’s dealers in Canada and the United States, and will be at the April market.
Wilson and Executive Vice President Jeff Arthur have taken over day-to-day management of the company.
“There is an unbelievable opportunity and a huge responsibility associated with succeeding John Scarsella,” Wilson said. “His legacy of integrity and honesty has set the bar at an extremely high standard. Jeff and I intend to do everything in our power to maintain and grow what John has created.”
Wilson brings 30 years of industry experience to his new post, including management positions with Lexington, Universal and Stanley Furniture. Arthur spent 18 years with Henredon before joining Durham in 2002.
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Durham CEO resigns
Apr 10, 2005
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