Mohawk Realigns Residential & Commercial Flooring

Calhoun, GA, August 16--Mohawk Industries has realigned its Mohawk residential and commercial flooring businesses into two strategic business units (SBUs) designed to enhance operations and customer service. Jeff Lorberbaum, chairman and CEO of Mohawk, said "Through better focus on our different customers, we will improve reliability, innovation, and service. Our intent is to develop a structure that allows Mohawk employees to best utilize their skills, increase responsiveness, and contribute to Mohawk’s overall success." Monte Thornton, president of the Mohawk Group, will head both SBUs. For the Residential SBU, Tom Lape will be responsible for sales and marketing functions. Frank Peters will lead carpet and yarn manufacturing, product development and planning. This SBU will also include hard surfaces, customer operations, and other support functions. For the last five years, Lape has been head of The Mohawk Group, which includes Bigelow Commercial, Mohawk Commercial, Durkan Commercial, and Karastan Commercial carpet brands. Lape began his career in flooring at Amoco Chemical Company. He later became a partner in Sunrise Carpet Industries, which was sold to World Carpets in 1998. He has built a reputation in Commercial Flooring as being responsive to customer needs. Now he intends to bring this same focus to the residential side of the business. "I look forward to working closely with the residential dealer community and fostering the same kinds of personal long-term relationships I’ve been fortunate enough to hold on the commercial end," Lape said. "The residential market faces numerous challenges, and our new alignment gives Mohawk the ability to respond quickly, offering flexible solutions to dealers with different needs." For the second SBU, Commercial Flooring, Jim McCallum will be head sales and marketing. Jim Prettyman will be responsible for carpet manufacturing, product development and planning. This SBU will also include customer operations as well as other support functions. Operations will be led by Joe Yarbrough, who is responsible for extrusion, distribution, backing, and cushion. Operations will also include engineering, recycling, samples, purchasing, environmental, and other support functions.

Related Topics:Mohawk Industries, Karastan

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