Brook Furniture Rental, Inc. Names Robert Crawford III President

Furniture World Magazine

The Brook Furniture Rental Inc. Board of Directors named Robert W. Crawford III, 42, President. The former Coca-Cola marketing executive joined Brook Furniture Rental, Inc. in March, 2007 as Executive Vice President. He will continue to lead the firm’s marketing, merchandising, concierge sales and operations efforts. His father, Robert W. Crawford, Jr., remains as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and will continue to oversee all regional operations. “I’m very proud to be given this responsibility,” Robert Crawford III said. “We will look for exciting new ways to continually exceed customer expectations and grow the business using proven best practices, innovative marketing ideas, and the latest technology.” “This promotion is part of our long-term succession plans,” said Robert W. Crawford, Jr. “It’s an important step in the long-term plans of Brook Furniture Rental. Bob will help evolve the firm to face the challenges and opportunities the future will afford us. I could not be more pleased.” Brook Furniture Rental, Inc. (www.bfr.com) is a service-oriented company focusing on renting, leasing and selling a full line of residential and office furnishings to individuals and changing corporations in a highly mobile society. With revenues exceeding $60 million, Brook Furniture Rental, Inc. is focusing on delivering premier service to customers in the high end of the furniture rental market. Brook Furniture Rental is the second largest (and the largest privately-held) company in the domestic “rent-to-rent” segment of the furniture rental industry. Robert W. Crawford, Jr. founded Brook Furniture Rental, Inc. in 1979 when he bought the assets of a small, troubled Chicago furniture rental company with annual revenues of $500,000. By 1985, Brook had become the area’s largest furniture rental provider. Today, Brook Furniture Rental offices are located throughout the United States, including: San Francisco, Sacramento; Los Angeles; San Diego; Chicago; Milwaukee; Washington D.C.; Atlanta; Dallas; and Las Vegas. Robert Crawford III was previously Director of Marketing for The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Channel, the largest segment in Coca-Cola North America’s Foodservice division. Crawford earned an MBA in both Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business and a Masters Degree from the London School of Economics. He earned a BA Degree at Carleton College, Northfield. MN. Crawford showed early interest in Brook Furniture Rental, first in office jobs during junior high school. While in high school, he worked in the Elk Grove Village distribution and clearance center, and, as a college student, spent a summer as a Chicago truck driver for the company. He also served as a company consultant. Crawford is also an accomplished athlete. He was a seven time All-American swimmer at Carleton College. He enjoys tennis and running. In 1988, the father and son team completed a cross country bicycle trip of more than 3,200 miles in less than a month. Robert W. Crawford III, his wife and three sons reside in Lake Forest, IL.