Todd Sessa named VP at Furniture Brands companies

Will guide product development at Henredon, Maitland-Smith, LaBarge

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, November 5, 2009

HIGH POINT — Industry veteran Todd Sessa has been named vice president of merchandising and product development for Henredon, Maitland-Smith and LaBarge, three high-end labels of Furniture Brands International.

The company said the job was previously handled by two people - Michael Delgaudio, former senior vice president of product development, who left Furniture Brands to become marketing director at Sherrill Furniture, and Amy Finley, who was vice president of product design and marketing at Maitland-Smith and recently left to join JCPenney.

Sessa, who has worked in the industry for 20 years, mostly recently was a New York area sales rep for Henredon. He also has held other positions with the company, including vice president of sales and vice president of Ralph Lauren merchandising.

In his new role, he reports to Dan Bradley, president of the Designer Brands Group of Furniture Brands International. Sessa will be responsible for managing the development of each of the brands' product lines according to customer needs.

Product development and merchandising managers for Henredon, Maitland-Smith and LaBarge will report to Sessa, while sales analytics and marketing functions for each of the companies will report to Jeff Arthur, vice president of marketing and sales for Henredon.

"Todd has been an important part of our organization for many years," Bradley said in a statement. "He understands the unique assets of Henredon, Maitland-Smith and LaBarge. This new structure will leverage the strength of the companies, while maintaining the individual identity and strategic direction of each brand."

Sessa began his new role with the company in mid-October.