Jack Johnson named senior VP of sales and marketing at Stein World

David Ko has been hired as director on international supply chain

Heath E Combs -- Furniture Today, November 17, 2011

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Industry veteran Jack Johnson recently joined accent furniture, occasional table and lighting importer Stein World as senior vice president of sales and marketing, a new position at the company.

Jack Johnson

David Ko

Johnson was most recently a regional manager for Lane Furniture and also has senior managerial experience with Haverty's Furniture and Bassett Furniture and a background in sales management, retail and manufacturing, a press release said.

Johnson will lead a sales management team including Marc Alters, David Stein and Greg Johnston - each of whom is a regional vice president - and James Franks, who was recently transitioned into the role of president of key accounts.

Franks is the former vice president of product development and marketing. Alex Plummer, a former longtime buyer with Nebraska Furniture Mart, was named director of product development and merchandising.

Additionally, David Ko has joined the company as director of international supply chain. Ko's experience includes managing overseas manufacturing operations at Magnussen Home Furnishings. Ko will be based in China

Both Johnson and Ko report to David Fiore, chairman of the board of directors.

"I have every confidence that they will make significant contributions to Stein World's focus on service excellence and supplying products that deliver exceptional value to our customers," Fiore said in a press release.

The company's former vice president of finance, Judy Williamson, is no longer with the company and Donna Brockman has replaced her as chief financial officer.

Stein World is majority owned by equity firm Wingate Partners. Earlier this month, the company announced that Richard Olmeda had resigned as CEO to pursue other interests, with Fiore serving in the interim until a permanent replacement is named.