Skipper rejoins Habersham as president; Eddy is CEO

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, February 20, 2012

SkipperTOCCOA, Ga. - Tom Skipper has returned to high-end case goods manufacturer Habersham as president, a role most recently held by longtime executive Matt Eddy, who is now CEO.
     Skipper, who was Habersham's vice president of sales from 2003 to 2010, most recently was president of upholstery producer Massoud.
     At Habersham he reports to Eddy, who is CEO, a position that had not been occupied. Eddy will oversee business development, strategic initiatives and growth initiatives for the company, which has been in business nearly 40 years.
     Habersham also said it has named Joan Bostic to the newly created position of vice president of sales for kitchen and bath cabinetry. Bostic, who reports to Skipper, has held a number of roles in sales and marketing in the kitchen cabinetry and fixtures industry at companies including Elkay Cabinetry, KWC America, Heritage Custom Kitchens and Christiana Cabinetry.
     Mark Rossi, who was most recently interim vice president of sales, returns to his previous role as CEO of Carolina Sales Group. The independent sales agency has represented Habersham in the Carolinas since 1985.
Skipper had been president of Massoud for about two years. A Massoud spokeswoman said last week that the company has not named a new president.
     In addition to Skipper's previous work at Habersham, he also held sales and marketing posts at Drexel Heritage for 21 years.Bostic
     In his new role, he will oversee Habersham's sales and marketing efforts. Eddy said in a statement that Skipper is the right person to take the company to the next level, based on his understanding of the company's product lines.
     "As a manufacturer of both custom cabinetry and furniture, Habersham is truly in a unique position in the marketplace," Eddy said. "We've dramatically expanded our custom capabilities over the past two years, and that initiative, coupled with the positive signs we're finally seeing in the real estate market, point to renewed opportunities for our company."
     Skipper also will work with Bostic in the kitchen and bath cabinetry division, which officials said is a growth area.
     "Habersham offers the dealer/designer a greater share of the ultimate consumer's dollar than any standalone kitchen and bath manufacturer," Skipper said in a statement. "That translates into bigger tickets and increased profitability for Habersham's partners."
     He said Habersham's furniture and kitchen bath cabinetry categories offer strong crossover selling opportunities.
     "With more than 30 years in the kitchen and bath marketplace, Joan Bostic brings the insight and hands-on industry experience we will need to truly maximize our potential," Skipper said.