FBI recruits some outsiders

We’re in the furniture business, right? So what would possess a smart guy like Furniture Brands International CEO Mickey Holliman to recruit senior executives from places like the Home Depot and Kentucky Fried Chicken?

And recruit them he has. Earlier this year, FBI hired Denise Ramos as senior vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer. Prior to joining FBI, Ramos was CFO of the KFC division of YUM! Brands, a vast restaurant company operating more than 33,000 eateries in more than 100 countries.

At the time, Mickey said Ramos’ knowledge of the retail industry, coupled with her strong financial background, made her a great fit for FBI.

More recently, FBI hired Joe McClelland Jr. away from Home Depot and gave him the title of vice president, logistics and supply chain management. He’s credited with spearheading the development of the home improvement kingpin’s international supply chain. His FBI mandate is to upgrade logistics and supply chain systems as the company boosts imports, cutting costs and boosting efficiencies.

So, back to my original question: What do these people know about the furniture business? Initially, probably not much. But what they do know — retail and what it takes to be eyeball-to-eyeball with the consumer — is priceless.

Mickey believes the furniture industry is not accustomed to having had on board an “abundance of brainpower.” In making these hires, Holliman is hitching his star to folks who may not have a clue what the phrase “to see the saw” means, but do have the ability to see the world from the consumer’s perspective.

As of this writing, FBI also is searching for a chief marketing officer. It’s a big job with tons of responsibility. If you know a topnotch marketing maven, tell them FBI may be hiring. You also can tell them an extensive career in the furniture business probably is not a prerequisite for the job.  (to add public comments click on "Add your Comment" below, or to email Ray directly click here.)