Michael Foster tapped to lead Calvin Klein Furniture

Replaces Andy Gillies as president, CEO

Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, March 7, 2012

HIGH POINT — Industry veteran Michael Foster has been named president and CEO of case goods and upholstery source Calvin Klein Furniture.

Michael Foster

Foster replaces Andy Gillies, who left the company earlier this year.

Well known for developing product including licensed furniture lines, Foster most recently was at Starmount Home Furnishings, a product development, marketing, sales and distribution company he formed with Mike Shyu, CEO of Hainan Topywood.

That company announced plans last year to focus entirely on its Nautica Apparel brand partner and stop producing ancillary items. A Nautica spokeswoman said the brand retains its relationship with Starmount.

Foster said he sold his ownership shares in Starmount to Shyu late last year and left the company in early February.

Calvin Klein Furniture was launched in 2008. Since 2010, the license to manufacture, sell and distribute the brand has been held by Z3, an entity of Birmingham, Mich.-based Wingspan Capital Partners.

The company will continue seeking accounts, especially those with strong Calvin Klein brand offerings in other products, Foster said.

"I understand the licensing side of the business, and the needs are very different and the attention to detail very different," he said.

In High Point, Calvin Klein has showrooms in the Commerce and Design building, spaces 8A, 8I and 8K. They showcase the Curator higher-end line and also the White Label line, focused on more moderately priced department stores.

Foster is a former Pennsylvania House, Lexington, Broyhill and Schnadig executive.