Durham names Arthur EVP, COO
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, January 27, 2003
Durham, Ontario — Furniture industry veteran Jeff Arthur has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of solid-wood bedroom producer Durham Furniture.
Also, Larry Palmer has joined Durham as chief financial officer.
Both report to President and Chief Executive Officer John Scarsella. Together with Lloyd Love, vice president of production, the four comprise Durham's senior management team.
The team's creation is the first step in Scarsella's plan to double sales over the next five years. The second step will be the introduction of dining room furniture, with prototypes on tap for the April High Point market and production expected early next year.
The company also is adding nearly 9,000 square feet to its plant in Chesley, Ontario, to expand machining, sanding and assembly. The addition will give Durham over 270,000 square feet of manufacturing space in addition to a 135,000-square-foot distribution center in nearly Hanover.
"Completion of the addition is expected in early March and will give us a significant increase in our production capacity," Scarsella said.
He anticipates making other capital investments.
Arthur has worked at Henredon for 18 years in a variety of posts, most recently as vice president of marketing and sales. At Durham, he will participate in production, product development, marketing and sales.
Like Scarsella, he will divide his time between headquarters here and the company's U.S. office in Canfield, Ohio.
Palmer, who will be based in Durham, is a chartered accountant with 25 years of senior financial management experience in a variety of industries.
Gary Fleischauer, national sales manager for Canada, has left the company, and the U.S. and Canadian sales and marketing team is being combined, Scarsella said. He and Arthur will lead the team.
Also joining the company is Michael Scarsella, son of John Scarsella. Based in Canfield, he will be involved in product development and marketing.
