NEW YORK–Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) has named Margaret M. Smyth to its board of directors.

Most recently, Smyth served as vice president and chief financial officer of Hamilton Sundstrand, part of United Technologies Corp. Prior to that, she was United Technologies’ vice president and corporate controller. She also served in financial positions with 3M, Deloitte & Touche and Arthur Andersen.

LOS ANGELES–City of Hope’s 2012 Spirit of Life honorees are Jeff Seaman, the CEO of Rooms to Go; and Bob Sherman, CEO of the Serta Mattress Company. Both honorees have raised funds and heightened awareness for City of Hope within the National Home Furnishings Industry.

LAS VEGAS–World Market Center Las Vegas has named Jamie Drake its 2012 Design Icon.

The award, which recognizes an interior or furniture designer who has made a significant contribution to the industry, will be presented at the upcoming Winter 2012 Las Vegas Market, Jan. 30-Feb. 3.

NEW YORK–Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced today that trailblazing architect and developer John C. Portman, Jr. will receive a special Legend for Life honor at the organization’s gala event to be held here on Jan. 29.

This award, which is being presented upon the 20th anniversary of Gift for Life, recognizes Portman’s more than five decades of entrepreneurship and service to the industry.

SYRACUSE, Ind.–Poly-Wood, Inc. has named Chad Yordy vice president, sales and marketing.

Yordy joined Poly-Wood in 2006 as director of sales for its contract business.

“Over the past five years, Chad has been instrumental in expanding the sales and marketing efforts of Poly-Wood,” said Doug Rassi, president, Poly-Wood. “With the tremendous growth potential of the outdoor industry, we are looking forward to Chad driving our initiatives to not only build upon our leadership position, but also to facilitate avenues for growth opportunity.”

ST. LOUIS–Furniture Brands International appointed Mark Wiltshire to the newly created position of president, special markets. In this position, Wiltshire will be responsible for all international sales and sales organizations, as well as the creative interiors and home builders divisions.

Wiltshire has been the president of Furniture Brands, Canada, ULC, since 2009. 

NEW YORK–Ralph Lauren Corporation has appointed Ian Sears to the position of president of the Home Collection Division.

Sears succeeds Frank Guzzetta who will assist with the transition ahead of his upcoming retirement.

Prior to joining Ralph Lauren, Sears was chief marketing officer for Restoration Hardware where he also served as senior vice president of the direct-to-consumer business and played a senior role in the merchandising area.

DUBUQUE, Iowa–Ron Klosterman, president and CEO of Flexsteel, will retire from his posts before the end of 2012.

Klosterman, who has been with Flexsteel for 40 years, succeeded K. Bruce Lauritsen in his roles in 2006. L. Bruce Boylen, Flexsteel’s chairman, credited Klosterman for his attention to every aspect of the company’s operations, including finance, manufacturing and marketing. “He has gained tremendous respect within the company and the furniture industry, demonstrating confidence in and conviction for our company,” Boylen said.

HICKORY, N.C.–Don Coleman, president and CEO of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, announced his plans to retire this December after 39 years with the company. He has been president and CEO of the company since 1996.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.–Pride Family Brands has promoted Sylvia Henderson to director of sales and marketing.  Henderson joined Pride Family Brands in 1998 and previously held the title of marketing manager.

As director of sales and marketing, Henderson will be responsible for managing all sales and marketing functions for Pride Family Brands’ Castelle, Prestige and Summer Winds brands.

Prior to joining Pride Family Brands, Henderson served as an intelligence interrogator for the United States Army.

SAN LEANDRO, Calif.–Zuo Modern has hired Johnnie Smith as its new national sales manager, effective immediately.

Smith will work with Zuo Modern’s sales force to improve its direct container program, the company said in a press release. She will attend the major markets in Las Vegas, Chicago, and High Point to help facilitate the sales program.

Smith was previously the sales manager for Pastel Furniture.

“I am very excited to be a part of the Zuo Modern Family,” Smith said.

MONROE, Mich.—­La-Z-Boy Incorporated announced a series of leadership changes today, including the retirement of Dave Layman, the senior vice president of residential operations.

Layman, who has been with the company for 40 years, will retire at the end of fiscal 2012, next spring.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.–Agio International has named Andy Sokol, a 27-year-furniture-industry veteran, as vice president sales.

Sokol will lead the outdoor manufacturer’s newest initiative to make additional inroads and increase sales from traditional home furnishing retailers.

Most recently Sokol was with Macy’s. He spent most of his career in outdoor furniture with Fortunoff.

CULVER CITY, Cal.–Powell Furniture appointed Mark Price as vice president of sales for the Midwest.

Price was previously with Primo International, Rosalco and Amisco.

Gary Glick, Powell’s senior vice president of sales for the West and Clay Ackard, vice president of sales for the East, both veterans of the industry, will team with Price to handle sales management for the company.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.–Gerry Borreggine, president and CEO of Therapedic, has been elected chairman of the International Sleep Products Association.

Borreggine succeeds Don Wright, chairman of Wright of Thomasville, who served as ISPA’s chairman for the past 18 months. He said his agenda will focus on strengthening ISPA’s advocacy for the sleep-products industry in Washington and in the nation’s state capitals.

ASHEVILLE, N.C.–Biltmore has appointed Donnette Miller as licensing director for home furnishings.

In this role, Miller oversees the Biltmore House’s home-furnishings licensing activities and developing new business within the brand. She reports to Tim Rosebrock, vice president and general manager, and Christy Hodgins, director of marketing. She succeeds Elizabeth Ford, who has moved to Biltmore Inspirations, a new brand developed by the historic site which will include foods and other home products, and which is slated to launch later this year.

ATLANTA—Simmons has named Jim Ruehlmann to the newly created position of executive vice president of product development.

Ruehlmann is responsible for developing and executing the mattress manufacturer’s new-product creation and innovation strategies. He reports directly to Gary Fazio, chief executive officer.

NEW YORK—Kelli Turner, chief financial officer for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, will leave the company in the near future, according to the company.

An MSLO statement said Turner will “join a private company in the near future,” although it did not specify which company. MSLO has also begun a search for a new chief financial officer.

During the search, Allison Jacques, the company’s controller, will serve as MSLO’s principal financial and accounting officer.

ATLANTA — Brownlee Currey has been named president of the 22-year-old home furnishings manufacturer Currey & Company, succeeding Barry Wabler. Currey is the son of the company’s founders, Robert and Suzanne Currey, and has worked at the company since 2001, and in every department. His most recent position at Currey & Company was heading the recently created contract and international sales department.

Before joining the company, Currey worked for Crate & Barrel for five years in Chicago and Detroit.

MEBANE, N.C.–Mattress industry veteran Bob Hellyer has been appointed president of Kingsdown, replacing Pat Flippen, who announced his retirement last week.

Hellyer’s new post is the latest among the leadership positions he has held in the industry. He served Simmons for 11 years, including his tenure as corporate president from 2001 to 2005. From 2007 to 2008, Hellyer served as chief executive officer of Spring Air, now known as Spring Air International.

AUSTIN, Texas–Chris Miller has joined Four Hands as national sales manager, responsible for the national sales team as well as the Las Vegas and Atlanta showroom personnel.

He previously spent 17 years with Rowe Fine Furniture in such roles as vice president of sales operations and regional sales manager for the southeastern region.

HIGH POINT, N.C.–Natuzzi Americas has expanded its brand management team with two new hires, adding a new, digital marketing position in order to provide more Web-based features for consumers. 

High Point, N.C.— Cheminne Taylor-Smith has been named vice president of marketing for the High Point Market Authority, the group that oversees the big furniture market here.

She succeeds Kimberley Wray, who left the Market Authority last month for personal and family reasons.

In her new post, which she starts on Aug. 2, Taylor-Smith will provide strategic direction for marketing and will oversee all public relations and communications.

CARTHAGE, Mo.–Mark Quinn has been promoted to director of marketing for the residential furnishings segment of Leggett & Platt.

In this newly created position, Quinn is responsible for the coordination of the marketing efforts for the various business units in residential furnishings. He reports to Perry Davis, president of the Leggett & Platt bedding group.

PICO RIVERA, Calif.–Aico/Amini Innovation has promoted Martin Ploy to president, succeeding Larry Rinaldi who recently retired.

Ploy has been with the company for eight years, and held the position of executive vice president for the past five years. His experience in the furniture industry includes stints with RB Furniture, Benchcraft Furniture and Krause’s Sofa Factory.

HIGH POINT, N.C.–Joseph Mussallem has been named president of the North American Team for Natuzzi Americas Inc. filling a position that had been vacant since Cary Benson left last December.

Mussallem was most recently Natuzzi senior vice president of sales, responsible for national accounts, Natuzzi Editions and Italsofa brands. The company said he will focus on a new organizational structure that created dedicated teams for Natuzzi’s three brands.

NEW YORK–Italian company Kartell has announced executive changes for its U.S. division. Emanuele Corvo, managing director of Kartell’s U.S. subsidiary, has resigned and will be leaving the company this week to pursue other interests, Kartell said in a statement.

In addition, John Jenkin will join the company April 1 in the new position of executive vice president, Kartell US, where he will explore and lead the company into new market segments, the company added.

SAN FRANCISCO—Howard Lester, the long-time head of Williams-Sonoma who took a minor kitchenware store and built into the home industry’s largest lifestyle retailer, is retiring.
Lester will be replaced as CEO by his number two executive Laura Alber, the current president. Adrian Bellamy, currently the board’s lead independent director, will become non-executive chairman and Lester will become chairman emeritus through December 2012.

AUSTIN, Tex.–Wade Oppliger has been named vice president of upholstery for Four Hands, the furniture and decorative furnishings manufacturer and importer based here.
He reports to Matthew Briggs, president and chief executive officer, and will oversee the company’s Boulevard brand as well as its seating products.
Oppliger was most recently with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams as a regional account manager, but has been in the industry for 30 years, starting at Bullock’s Department Store and working at a variety of retail and supplier companies.

LENOIR, N.C.–Lewis G. Norman, who first met Alex Bernhardt in boarding school and then spent his entire career at his friend’s family business—Bernhardt Furniture Co.—is retiring at the end of the year as vice chairman of the company.
He will continue as a director and consultant to the company he worked at for 45 years.

HIGH POINT, N.C.–Todd Sessa has been appointed to the position of vice president, merchandising and product development for Henredon, Maitland-Smith, effective immediately.
Sessa is a 20-year veteran of the furniture industry and has held various positions within Hendredon, including vice president of sales and vice president of Ralph Lauren Merchandising. Most recently, Sessa was Henredon’s marketing representative in the New York area.

HIGH POINT. N.C. -- Schnadig International has brought on two executives and promoted a third to create what it calls its “strategic development team,” which will be led by Jeff Young, president and CEO of the company, which was acquired earlier this year by Markor, the big Chinese furniture concern.

PHOENIX–Mike Watson has been named executive vice president of finance, strategy and information and chief financial officer for aspenhome, the furniture company based here.
He previously was a managing director and partner with Mann, Armistead & Epperson, the investment banking firm that has a specialization in the furniture industry.
Bill Colegrove, aspenhome chief executive officer, said Watson’s “accomplished background in investment banking along with his domestic and international knowledge of the industry will be a great resource for us.”

TUPELO, Miss.–Lane Home Furnishings has named Dan Sheehan senior vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for overseeing all marketing and advertising functions and helping direct its national sales force.
“I am pleased that Dan is joining our talented team at Lane,” said Greg Roy, president. “His experience in sales and marketing will be a tremendous asset as we continue to develop fresh and innovative furniture to drive results for our customers.”

LENOIR, N.C.–The torch has been passed to the next generation at one of the furniture industry’s last remaining family owned and operated powerhouses.
Yesterday Bernhardt Furniture Co. announced it was creating a three-member chairman’s committee of the board while creating new president-level positions for younger members of the extended Bernhardt family.
The chairman’s committee will consist of Alex Bernhardt Sr., chairman and chief executive officer and Lewis Norman and Anne Bernhardt, both vice chairmen.

PHOENIX–Jena Hall, who helped put aspenhome on the furniture map, has been promoted to the newly created post of executive vice president of merchandising and design for bedroom, dining and occasional furniture.
She had previously been vice president for those areas.
In her new position, she will be responsible for strategic planning for all merchandising programs as well as visual merchandising. She will continue to be in charge of design and the overall design direction for the company’s products.

CARTHAGE, Mo.–John Walsh has been appointed to the newly created position of director of creative services for Leggett & Platt.
Walsh is in charge of the company’s design, Internet, printing and exhibit functions within its creative services division, and reports to Mark Quinn, executive vice president of marketing. His hiring signals that Leggett & Platt is enhancing the creative services department to improve the company’s visibility with customers, according to a Leggett & Platt statement.

GREENSBORO, N.C.–Ron C. Curlee has left his position of director of visual merchandising for Highland House Furniture to pursue other interests, said Curlee in a press release.
He was with Highland Furniture for five years. The company could not be reached for comment.

STANLEYTOWN, Va.–Albert Prillaman, longtime head of Stanley Furniture, has returned to the company as chief executive officer.
Prillaman succeeds Jeffrey R. Scheffer, who has resigned as president, CEO and director to pursue other interests.
In a statement from the company, Prillaman said he would focus on strategic issues targeted toward increasing shareholder value. Stanley Furniture has experienced disappointing financial results for some time, and has been undergoing a restructuring of its manufacturing operations, according to the statement.

NEW YORK–Kartell, the Italian manufacturer of design-oriented plastic furniture and lighting, has named Emanuele Corvo as managing director, Kartell U.S.
Corvo will oversee the company’s operations for the United States and Canada, where it has more than 150 retailers and distribution outlets.
Prior to joining Kartell, Corvo was general manager and vice president of sales for Calligaris USA, the Italian furniture company.

MONROE, Mich.–La-Z-Boy Inc. has made several management changes in its residential sales and marketing areas.
Greg White was appointed senior vice president of sales and merchandising, a new post in which he will oversee all sales and merchandising functions, as well as real estate and customer service. He reports to Kurt L. Darrow, president and chief executive officer of La-Z-Boy.
White, who has served the company since 1988 in various capacities, previously was vice president of merchandising since 1997, with the additional responsibilities for sales since 2004.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–A restructuring at GLM has created three teams headed by senior vice presidents Phil Robinson, Dorothy Belshaw and Lori Kisner, all of whom will report to Alan Steel, executive vice president of the trade show-management division of DMG Worldwide.

ST. LOUIS–Furniture Brands International has named Dan Stone to vice president of strategy and business development, as interim leader of the company’s supply-chain organization. He succeeds Mike McBreen, who has left the company, according to a statement.
Ralph P. Scozzafava, Furniture Brands’ chief executive officer, credited McBreen with developing the blueprint for the FBN Asia organization and building a team to manage that operation.

BURBANK, Calif.–Artisan House has named Mark Hearne director of international business development, a new position in which he will lead efforts to grow the company’s overseas business in Europe.
Hearne previously was vice president of sales and marketing for The Lam Lee Group. During his 20-year tenure, he was directly involved with the company’s U.S. sales force and international distributors. In 2005, Hearne left to establish a retail home furnishings venture, which his family continues to operate, according to a statement.

HIGH POINT, N.C.–Tom Lindh has resigned his post as president and chief executive officer of the International Home Furnishings Center, effective immediately, according to a statement. Reasons for his departure were not given.
Bruce Miller, who served as IHFC president and CEO for 20 years until his retirement in 2006, has returned to fill the spot until a successor can be found, officials at the market complex said. Lindh had been with IHFC since 1999.

RICHMOND, Calif.–Lisa Frudden has resigned her post as creative marketing director for Palecek, effective May 2.
After 24 years with the furniture and decorative home decor importer, Frudden is looking for a change of venue, she said. “I want to explore something different, like freelancing and consulting,” she told HFN.
Frudden, who has worked on many facets of the company’s marketing, merchandising and creative strategies, has already been asked to do some consulting for home furnishings firms, she said.

DALLAS–American Leather has appointed trend expert and consumer behaviorist Amy Archer as director of merchandising, a new post.
Archer has experience in manufacturing and retail, from sales to merchandising, with a specialty in retail and consumer trends. In 2006, Archer was nominated for the WOW Award, which recognizes business leaders that have contributed to the success of the home furnishings industry. As trend expert, Archer has appeared on various television shows, in videos and in print media.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.–Pride Family Brands, a major manufacturer of outdoor furniture, has named Rory Rehmert to the newly created position of vice president of sales and marketing for specialty stores and the contract division.
Rehmert, who takes office immediately, will report to Jamie Lowsky, chief executive officer.
Formerly vice president of sales and marketing for Meadowcraft, Rehmert has served as an officer on the board of the Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association for the past six years. In 2006 and 2007, he was the trade group’s president.

CARTHAGE, Mo.–Felix Wright, chairman of the board of Leggett & Platt, and Harry Cornell, chairman emeritus, will not seek re-election to the company’s board.
Cornell, grandson of J.P. Leggett, the company’s co-founder, joined Leggett & Platt in 1950. Wright joined the company in 1959, when he was hired by Cornell. The board’s nominating committee has recommended the election of Richard T. Fisher as the board’s independent chairman. Fisher has served as the board’s president director since 2003.

TUALATIN, Ore.–Barcalounger has named Larry L. Smith to the post of executive vice president and chief marketing and sales officer for Barcalounger Home.
In this newly created post, he reports to Tom Yow, chief executive officer of Barcalounger.
Smith brings extensive executive experience in the home industry, most recently as senior vice president of corporate merchandising, marketing and sales for Berkline/Benchcraft LLC, a company he worked at for 18 years.

LENOIR N.C.–Broyhill Home Furnishings has added two merchandising positions.
Debbie Blackburn was named merchandise manager for occasional tables, and Linda Moretz was appointed merchandise manager for youth furniture. Blackburn and Moretz will report to Michael Foster, Broyhill’s vice president of merchandising for case goods.
Blackburn, who has 28 years of experience in furniture retailing, previously was Broyhill’s merchandise manager of Continents, an occasional accent collection, and was also director of Broyhill’s accessory program.

CORONA, Calif.–Minka Group has appointed Brad Dobson to the post of national sales manager for the Ambience and Metropolitan Lighting lines, responsible for the furniture channel. He succeeds Tom Kubek, who has stepped down for medical reasons, and reports to Tim Flannery, vice president of sales and marketing. Dobson has served as a factory sales representative covering Southern California, and prior to that served as Western regional sales manager for Lite Source.