Leading Midwest furniture retailer, The RoomPlace, announced the appointment of industry veteran Steve Giordano as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective May 10, 2010.
Giordano will be joining The RoomPlace from The Room Store, a retail chain in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Texas, where he had been Chief Operating Officer. Giordano has over twenty years of experience in the industry and was previously Chief Operating Officer of Powell Company, a furniture designer and importer, and Kane Furniture, a central Florida retailer.
Citing Giordano’s strong operating skills, The RoomPlace Chairman, Everett Cook, commented, "Steve has an outstanding track record of success in addressing operating challenges and making businesses stronger and more profitable. He is a hands-on manager who sets the right goals for his people and holds them accountable for achieving results."
Cook is co-founder of Pouschine Cook Capital Management, who together with Bear Growth Capital Partners and Altamont Capital, acquired majority ownership of The RoomPlace in 2004. The RoomPlace operates 23 retail locations and a state-of-the-art distribution center in the metropolitan Chicago and Indiana markets.
Cook went on to say, "We are confident that Steve will continue the significant merchandising, marketing and operational improvement efforts that the Company has undertaken during the past year. As a result of these initiatives, The RoomPlace is stronger and more successful. Steve will be extremely valuable in driving sales and maintaining a relentless focus on the needs of our customers in the current retail environment."
Giordano remarked, "I am excited to take the helm of The RoomPlace. The Company enjoys a long and respected reputation with a history of leading market share in metro Chicago and Indiana. I am honored to be able to work with The RoomPlace’s outstanding team. Together, we can take the chain to the next level."
About The RoomPlace
The history of The RoomPlace dates back to 1912, when the Company was known as Harlem Furniture. Until 1985, the Company operated a single retail outlet on Harlem Avenue in Chicago and has since expanded its retail presence to 22 main line stores in metropolitan Chicago, Indianapolis and northern Indiana as well as one outlet center. The Company officially changed its market name to The RoomPlace in 2000.
Recruitment for the CEO position was completed by a team from Berglass+Associates in New York, led by Matt Berglass.