Four Hands taps Briggs
Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, January 29, 2007
Austin, Texas — Case goods and leather upholstery importer Four Hands has promoted Matthew Briggs to president.
Briggs joined the company in 2001 as director of operations and was named chief operating officer in 2003. In January 2005 he also assumed the role of vice president, reporting to President and CEO Brett Hatton.
In addition to serving as president, Briggs will retain his role as chief operating officer. He continues to report to Hatton, who remains CEO.
Before joining Four Hands, Briggs was owner of Caravanserai, a retailer in Breckenridge, Colo., that was one of Four Hands' top 10 accounts.
Hatton said the promotion recognizes the job that Briggs was already doing to help grow the company. Four Hands has about $42 million in annual sales, up from $18 million in 2003.
Hatton added that the change will allow him to focus more on strategy and product development and will give Briggs more responsibility.
"His role will change," Hatton said. "He will be more of a leader and less of a doer.... He is the best people manager I have ever met or worked with. He has an innate ability to anticipate problems before they arise."
Briggs said the promotion was an honor and a demonstration of Hatton's leadership.
"It's an indication of his maturity as a leader where he wants to focus on the parts of the business that he is best at and that he enjoys the most," Briggs said. He added, "We had a fantastic year last year and are on track to keep performing."
