Broyhill Announces New Product Development Leadership

Furniture World Magazine

Michael Foster has been appointed vice president merchandising – case goods, and Anthony Teague, vice president merchandising – upholstery. Both will report to Don Webb, Broyhill’s executive vice president – sales and merchandising. The new positions represent the company’s new approach to product development, focused not just at the point of business-to-business relations with retail partners, but continuing from there, targeting how to help the company’s retail partners sell increasingly greater amounts of Broyhill furniture. “Both Michael and Anthony represent the pinnacle of talent within our industry,” Webb says. “Their combined abilities in design, supplier and retailer relations, merged with the strength of our product teams, all backed by the Broyhill brand, will help Broyhill become an industry-leading partner all the way to the end-consumers’ front door. “The addition of Foster and Teague enables us to launch our vision of this new Center of Excellence for Design,” he says. “Their contributions will ensure that the Broyhill design center sets new standards of excellence within the home furnishings industry.” Both Foster and Teague will be responsible for defining the direction of Broyhill’s product offerings, identifying target markets to support Broyhill’s growth strategy, and aggressively penetrating those markets to reinforce Broyhill’s position as the leading brand of home furnishings. They will also share responsibility for driving relationships with Broyhill’s partners across the supply chain, as well as providing guidance to Broyhill’s marketing team. “Our goal is to quickly return Broyhill to the position of dominance in every product category we once enjoyed. Building the most creative, and dynamic management team in the industry has and will continue to be an important focus for us,” says Jeff Cook, Broyhill president. “During the last six months, we have been working hard to listen to our dealers and to create more compelling product that is more relevant to what today’s consumers want and need. I am honored to be able to attract such proven leaders like Anthony and Michael to our already strong team. This is just one more giant step in that direction that has already significantly reenergized our customers.” Michael Foster joins Broyhill from JT Michael Designs, a company he founded to create proprietary, private-label case goods. Previously, he was president of Pennsylvania House Furniture; director of wood merchandising for Schnadig Corporation; vice president of sales and merchandising for Lexington Home Furnishings; vice president, merchandising for the Masco Upholstery Group; and president at O’Asian Designs, Inc. Foster received his bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Scranton in Scranton, Penn. He lives in Greensboro, N.C. with his wife and three children. Anthony Teague joins Broyhill from Klaussner Furniture Industries, Inc. where he was the director of upholstery and earlier a product manager for the company’s KFI and Distinctions brands. Formerly, Teague was the president of Morgan Stewart Furniture, a subsidiary of Dunmore Furniture Industries, where he served in dual roles for both Morgan Stewart and Dunmore. Teague received his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. He lives with his wife and three sons in Hickory, N.C. Broyhill Home Furnishings offers wooden case goods and upholstery for every room in the home, including the living room, dining room, bedroom, family room, home entertainment area, home office and youth bedroom. Sold in retail stores in all 50 states and 35 foreign countries, Broyhill is one of the largest home furnishings producers in the world. For over 100 years, Broyhill continues to be the most recognized furniture brand. Headquartered in Lenoir, North Carolina, Broyhill is a subsidiary of Furniture Brands International (NYSE:FBN), which produces, sources and markets its products under six of the best-known brand names in the industry – Broyhill, Lane, Thomasville, Henredon, Drexel Heritage, and Maitland-Smith.