Rogers heads Sealy division
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, January 22, 2007
Archdale, N.C. — Sealy's new global leadership structure, which establishes a North American division headed by Larry Rogers, establishes three business units.
The biggest, which had sales of $1.4 billion in fiscal 2005, is the North American unit, with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The other units cover the South American and European markets.
Sealy veteran Rogers holds the newly created position of president, North America. He has worked for the company for 27 years and is credited with laying the foundation for Sealy's international business. Rogers led Sealy's international bedding group for the last 12 years.
Sealy officials said he excelled at expanding into new markets in South America, Latin America and Europe; introducing new products, increasing market share, developing management talent and expanding Sealy's global footprint.
Rogers' new responsibilities include oversight of sales, marketing, research and technology innovation, and global licensing.
Sealy also announced that Federico Puppio has been named vice president and chief operating officer for South America. He was formerly chief operating officer at Sealy Argentina, and reports to Dave McIlquham, Sealy's chairman and CEO.
In Europe, Ezio Braggio, vice president and chief operating officer for Sealy Europe, continues to lead that division. He also now reports to McIlquham.
Sealy said the decision to view North America as one market will strengthen its competitive advantage and will enable Sealy to benefit from growing consumer demand.
The company said it continues to anticipate that one-third of its growth will be derived from sales of innerspring bedding in the United States, one-third will be from specialty products, and one-third will be from outside the U.S.
The new North American structure will create a consolidated approach to leveraging best practices, Sealy said. It also will better leverage product development capabilities, sales and distribution strengths and lean manufacturing initiatives. And it will also help Sealy expand its profit margins in the long term, Sealy said.
Supporting Rogers in his new post is Michael Hofmann, who has been promoted to executive vice president of operations. Hofmann, who was previously senior vice president of operations in the U.S., expands his responsibilities to include management of operations in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. He is the chief architect of Sealy's lean manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives.
