Hooker Furniture Announces Promotions, Changes in Marketing Management
Martinsville, Va., May 14, 2009: Bruce Cohenour has been promoted to the new position of executive vice president of marketing at Hooker Furniture, responsible for charting the overall product and merchandising direction and for positioning the company's Hooker, Opus Designs and Envision brands.
Most recently senior vice president of national accounts and business development, Cohenour has been in senior management with Hooker for two years. In his new position, all merchandising executives will report to him, and Cohenour will report directly to Paul Toms, chairman, chief executive officer and president. "Since he's been with the company, Bruce has done an outstanding job not only helping us open targeted national accounts, but also understanding where we need to be from a product and pricing standpoint for national accounts and our existing customer base," Toms said.
In other announcements, former merchandising vice president James Millner's role with the company will change from an officer to an independent designer working closely with Hooker in product design. Millner joined Hooker in January 2008 following the acquisition of the firm he co-founded, youth specialist Opus Designs. " James has helped us a great deal in bringing product targeted to a younger consumer in more lifestyle and transitional styling at Opus Designs, Hooker and Envision," Toms said."We look forward to his continuing design contributions for all three companies."
In light of Millner's departure as an internal merchandising executive, Merchandising Manager Cindy Hall will take on the additional role of assisting Cohenour with product development for Opus Designs and continue working on proprietary products for large national accounts. All the merchandising assistants will continue to report to Hall, and she will report to Cohenour. "Cindy has done an outstanding job with the company over the last 19 years and is ready for more responsibility," Toms said.
In addition, Erica Wingo, who has been with the company for approximately two years as a management trainee, will move into the merchandising department as a merchandising assistant working with the accent chair program and special projects.
For more information, contact:
Paul B. Toms Jr.
chairman, chief executive and president
Hooker Furniture
276-632-2133
or
Kim Shaver
Hooker Furniture
336-880-1230