LHFI team a mix of retail, industry vets
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 10, 2004
HIGH POINT — Levitz Home Furnishings Inc.'s senior management team represents a good mix of experienced industry veterans, retail veterans and young go-getters, according to its president, Mark Scott.
The team includes:
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Jay Carothers, chairman and CEO. He joined LHFI in March 2003 as chief operating officer and was promoted to the leading role in January, after the death of LHFI chief Alan Rosenberg. Scott credits Carothers for improvements in distribution, information systems, finance and other areas.
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Mark Scott, president and chief operating officer, who joined LHFI in January. Formerly with KB Toys, The Bombay Company and Sportsmart in senior executive capacities, and before that with Bloomingdale's, Scott oversees merchandising, advertising and marketing for the 127-store Levitz and Seaman's chains.
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Mark Sussman, senior vice president of merchandising for Seaman's, handling a role previously taken on by Rosenberg. Sussman most recently was director of strategic planning and product development for KB Toys, and has an extensive retailing background with J. Crew, Burberry of London and Lord & Taylor.
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Chris Pelcher, senior vice president of merchandising for Levitz, replacing Loreen Epp, who resigned in early April. Pelcher joined Levitz as bedroom furniture buyer and moved up to handle all case goods for Levitz. Before that, he spent nearly 10 years at Fortunoff's, leaving as case goods buyer.
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Charles Castaneda, senior vice president, merchandise planning and allocation. New to the company, Castaneda most recently was vice president of merchandise planning and allocation at Brooks Bros., and previously was with Priceline WebHouse Club, Ann Taylor, Clothestime and Saks Fifth Avenue.
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Greg Ackerman, divisional vice president of advertising, who joined the company in 1998 and was promoted to director of advertising operations in 2001. Before joining LHFI, he was senior graphic designer at Nynex/Bell Atlantic.
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Ken Brown, vice president, real estate, store design and construction. The longest-serving company executive, Brown joined Levitz as warehouse manager in 1975. He has held various posts, including case goods and upholstery rebuyer, store manager, Southeast regional merchandise manager and national merchandise manager. He was named a divisional vice president in 2003 and assumed his current post this year.
