Furniture Brands Names Communications Officer

Furniture World Magazine

Furniture Brands International announced that John S. Hastings has been named Vice President of Communications for the company, filling a newly created role. Mr. Hastings joins Furniture Brands from Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., where he was a senior vice president and led the investor relations practice area for the agency's St. Louis world headquarters. "Furniture Brands' strategic plan affects every element of our business, so it's important that we communicate both our plans and our progress to all our constituents," said Ralph P. Scozzafava, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "John has helped develop and execute our communications programs over the past year, and we are pleased that he will continue to work with us in communicating with investors, supply chain partners, customers, consumers, and employees." In this new role, Mr. Hastings will serve as primary liaison with the investment community and will provide strategic support for the company's human resources and marketing functions. Mr. Hastings holds a master's of business administration from Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Washington and Lee University. He serves as an officer of the St. Louis chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute. About Furniture Brands: Furniture Brands International (NYSE:FBN) is a vertically integrated operating company that is one of the nation's leading designers, manufacturers, and retailers of home furnishings. It markets through a wide range of retail channels, from mass merchant stores to single-brand and independent dealers to specialized interior designers. Furniture Brands serves its customers through some of the best known and most respected brands in the furniture industry, including Broyhill, Lane, Thomasville, Drexel Heritage, Henredon, Pearson, Hickory Chair, Laneventure, and Maitland-Smith.