Furniture Brands sets logistics, sourcing team
Martin to head 120-person office in Asia
Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, January 8, 2008
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Furniture Brands International has promoted and reassigned several people to its supply chain team and has established a new China office, aiming to improve logistics and develop stronger Asia-based operations.
Jimmy Martin was named managing director of Furniture Brands Asia-based operations and will head global sourcing effort.
He will be based in Dongguan, China, and will manage a new Furniture Brands Hangzhou Co. Ltd. office that will be the headquarters of its Asian sourcing operations. FBI expects to have 120 employees there.
Martin had been senior vice president of supply chain for Broyhill, an FBI company, for about a year and previously was with sister company Lane for 33 years, most recently as head of manufacturing and supply chain management.
Davy Whittington was named head of distribution and logistics, managing logistics programs, fleet operations and distribution centers across all the brands. He also will lead negotiations with logistics service providers.
Jeff Smith was named head of product development for all brands. His goals will include reducing product lead times and optimizing the performance of FBI’s domestic and offshore assets.
Brian Martin was named head of sourcing operations and will work to improve product quality and delivery performance while reducing costs.
Tara Newman will coordinate import logistics functions including container shipments. She will report to Whittington.
The company also announced plans to consolidate distribution center operations domestically and offshore. It will accommodate Customs compliance and roll out consolidated container-direct deliveries to large retailers.
“We have built our supply chain team with seasoned furniture industry professionals from within our own brands, all working together efficiently and effectively. This organization and the steps we have taken in warehouse consolidation and supply chain improvements will help us simplify and streamline our product development processes and globally coordinate all manufacturing operations and distribution logistics,” said Mike McBreen, vice president of logistics and supply chain for Furniture Brands.
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FBI readies 1st China office
Jan 13, 2008
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