MARY ELLEN LLOYD

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Furniture Brands International Inc. on Wednesday named William G. “Skipper” Holliman president of its Lane Furniture Industries unit.

Holliman is the son of Furniture Brands Chief Executive and Chairman W.G. “Mickey” Holliman.


The St. Louis-based residential furniture company, one of the largest in the United States, said the younger Holliman most recently served as executive vice president of Lane’s supply chain. The elder Holliman is retiring as CEO early next year but will stay on as chairman until May 1.

Separately, Jeff Young, who served as president and chief executive officer of HDM Furniture Industries, resigned by mutual agreement, the company said. HDM is the operations of Henredon, Drexel Heritage and Maitland-Smith Furniture, which make up some of the company’s higher-end brands.

Tom Foy, Furniture Brands’ president and chief operating officer, will oversee operations at HDM while the company seeks a permanent replacement for Young, who has been with the company since 2002. Foy has overseen Lane’s operations since a management shake-up in mid-2012, and he had stepped in to manage the Broyhill brand when it was between CEOs.

Furniture Brands has had numerous executive changes at its operating companies in recent years as it competes against a flood of cheaper imports. In June, the company named a consumer products industry veteran as its choice to replace CEO Holliman on his retirement. Ralph Scozzafava, most recently a vice president at Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., becomes Furniture Brands’ chief executive on Jan. 1.

Shares of Furniture Brands rose 33 cents, or 3 percent, to $11.21 in afternoon trading Wednesday.

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Monica M. Clark contributed to this report.