Hooker hires operations, merchandising execs
Company also names human resources chief
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 24, 2008
Martinsville, Va. — Veteran sourcing, supply chain and logistics executive Sekar Sundararajan is joining Hooker Furniture in the new post of executive vice president — operations, the case goods and upholstery source announced.
Also new to the company is James Millner, a 20-year veteran in youth bedroom merchandising and co-founder of Opus Designs, a youth furniture specialist acquired by Hooker in December. He is now vice president — merchandising.
In addition, Anne Jacobsen, who has 20 years of experience in human resources management, has joined the company as director — human resources.
Sundararajan will oversee warehousing and distribution, sourcing, vendor management, product quality, parts delivery, forecasting and supply chain management.
"With our new business model, we need a very strong executive focused every day on improving and managing all these operational areas," said Paul Toms, chairman and CEO. "Sekar comes to us with a tremendous amount of relevant experience. He has strong relationships with many of our Asian vendors, a supply chain background and excellent engineering and project management experience that uniquely qualify him to help us in all these areas."
Hooker closed its last wood furniture plant last year and now imports all its case goods and occasional furniture, transitioning to a design, marketing, global sourcing and logistics business model. It still produces upholstery in the United States in its Bradington-Young division.
Sundararajan has consulted with Hooker since April. Previously, he was general manager of Pulaski Furniture's import division. He has consulted with consumer goods companies including Whirlpool, Subzero, Kraft Foods and Ford. He reports to Toms.
Before launching Opus Designs in 2004, Millner worked in furniture design with companies including Stanley, Lea Inds. and Magnussen Home.
"James will be a tremendous asset as we seek to grow our business in the youth furniture arena, and also strengthens our merchandising team, bringing a fresh, young vision and perspective that will help us reach an expanded demographic of younger, slightly less affluent consumers than Hooker's current core demographic," Toms said.
Millner reports to Mike Spece, executive vice president — merchandising and design.
Jacobsen will oversee personnel policies, establish and administer benefit programs, and develop wellness and continuing education programs. She reports to Larry Ryder, executive vice president — finance and administration.
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