The Furniture First Interim CEO Steve Kloss announced last week that Andrew Kauffman would be promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Kauffman’s duties for sleep products will be taken up by new hire Kerry Diem, who will assume the position of Director of Sleep Products & Mattress 1st Stores.
Kauffman joined Furniture First as Director of Mattresses in 2011. In that role he oversaw the launch of the Mattress 1st Retail Store Concept in June of 2013. In 2014 Kauffman was promoted to Vice President of Sleep Products & Markets, when responsibilities for Furniture First’s presence at the High Point and Las Vegas Markets were added.
Kerry Diem brings over 30 years of experience in the furniture industry to his new position with Furniture First. His background encompasses both the wholesale and retail sides of the industry. Starting in retail sales, Diem worked as a retail manager of a sleep shop, and then he owned his own store for a time. He moved to the wholesale side of the industry, working as a representative for Hickory Springs before joining Serta International. He spent 13 years with the bedding manufacturer, capping his tenure with the post of National Sales Manager in charge of gallery programs for Serta’s Retail Concept Group. His first day at Furniture First will be April 16, 2016 at the High Point Market.