MONROE, Mich., Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE: LZB) today announced that Aaron Thomas Brown will join the company as Vice President, Strategy and Analytics, a newly created position. In this capacity, Brown will report to Kurt Darrow, La-Z-Boy's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and will spearhead strategic planning across the enterprise. He will be responsible for leading a team charged with the ongoing refinement of existing corporate initiatives and the development of additional strategies designed to elevate corporate performance and drive increased sales and profitability. He will also be responsible for financial analytics related to the support, optimization and growth of the company's wholesale and retail divisions.
Commenting on the appointment, Darrow said, "We are delighted Aaron is joining the company. He brings with him a wealth of experience in strategic planning for consumer goods and retail companies that spans across many disciplines designed to drive operational excellence and improvements. I am confident his expertise will be an asset to our company as we build out the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® footprint across North America while leveraging our integrated retail strategy. At the same time, he will identify new opportunities for the company to leverage its size, structure and financial strength as we look for additional means to grow and expand our business profitably."
Before joining La-Z-Boy, Brown was a Partner and Managing Director at The Boston Consulting Group, where he managed numerous engagements in the consumer goods and retail sectors, and developed growth strategies and corporate development agendas, including post-merger integration, due diligence and turnaround plans. He also was involved in BCG's recruiting program and served as Consultant Development Advisor.
Brown said, "La-Z-Boy is an iconic American brand and one with global appeal. With an expansive distribution footprint, excellent product, a solid operational structure and significant brand strength, there is great opportunity to further develop the company. I look forward to joining a high-caliber management team and utilizing my expertise to develop various growth initiatives to enhance profitability across the company."
Brown earned his B.S. in Industrial and Operations Engineering as well as an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Background Information
La-Z-Boy Incorporated is one of the world's leading residential furniture producers, marketing furniture for every room of the home. The La-Z-Boy Upholstery segment companies are England and La-Z-Boy. The Casegoods segment consists of three brands: American Drew, Hammary, and Kincaid. The company-owned Retail segment includes 102 of the 317 La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores.
The corporation's branded distribution network is dedicated to selling La-Z-Boy Incorporated products and brands, and includes 317 stand-alone La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores and 586 independent Comfort Studio® locations, in addition to in-store gallery programs for the company's Kincaid and England operating units. Additional information is available at http://www.la-z-boy.com/.
SOURCE La-Z-Boy Incorporated
Kathy Liebmann, (734) 241-2438, kathy.liebmann@la-z-boy.com