Thomas Russell — Furniture Today,
WHITSETT, N.C. — Kevin O’Connor will oversee Legacy Classic and Universal in a restructuring announced by the two companies’ parent.


Lacquer Craft Mfg. parent Samson Holding said O’Connor, who has been president and CEO of Legacy Classic Furniture, will hold the same titles at a new unit called Samson Marketing.

The unit will oversee Universal Furniture and Legacy Classic, two case goods importers and marketing companies owned by Samson Holding.

Lee Boone, who has been general manager of Legacy Classic Kids, replaces O’Connor as president of Legacy Classic, reporting to O’Connor. The company has not yet named a replacement at Legacy Classic Kids.

Randy Chrisley remains president and CEO of Universal and also reports to O’Connor.

O’Connor has been president and CEO of Legacy Classic since helping to form the company in early 1999. In his new role, he continues to report to Samuel Kuo, chairman and CEO of Samson Holding.

“Kevin O’Connor has clearly demonstrated his knowledge of the furniture industry and leadership ability in the development and growth of the Legacy Classic Furniture business and the Legacy management team over the past seven years,” Kuo said in a statement.

Samson also has named Victor Hsu, Universal’s chief financial officer, as CFO of Samson Marketing, reporting to O’Connor. He will oversee the financial affairs of Universal and Legacy Classic, including merger and acquisition opportunities, and will oversee the companies’ IT team.

O’Connor said that Samson Marketing offices will be in High Point, probably somewhere between the current Universal headquarters and a new Legacy Classic home office in the city.

He said he looks forward to the challenges and opportunities of directing both marketing companies.

“The two companies have been able to grow and prosper and they each have their own strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “Clearly we want them to have their own distinct personalities, and my job becomes making sure that the opportunities the marketplace presents are addressed by these two companies in a non-redundant way.”

He added that companies need to change and reinvent themselves as the marketplace changes.

“If you look at the dealer and retail structure in the U.S. today, it is significantly different than when we started this whole thing with Legacy Classic seven years ago. And the problems we face today are different. We have addressed some of them, but we need to think of what will happen two to three years down the road,” he said.

But O’Connor also said companies must stay focused on their vision of how they meet the needs of the marketplace.

“Your dealers and retail partners shouldn’t be surprised walking into your showroom,” he said. “You should be telling a consistent story. …That is one of the things that separates the good from the great companies, their ability to change, but stay focused.”

In a related restructuring change, Legacy Classic has named Mike Harris as vice president of sales. He replaces Patrick Long, who has moved to a newly created position of sales and marketing representative.

From 2003 to this year, Harris was president and a partner of Kevin Charles Furniture, and previously held sales and management positions at Klaussner Furniture Inds. and Palliser. At Legacy Classic, he reports to Boone.