HIGH POINT – Industry veteran Lee Boone has been appointed CEO for three companies recently acquired by Green River Group, a furniture manufacturer based in Southeast Asia. Boone will lead HH2 Home, Hawthorne Home and Vogue Home, effective Nov. 11.
Angela Hsu, Green River’s executive vice president and granddaughter of company founder Omori Hsu, had been leading all three companies, in addition to Abbyson, which Green River acquired in September. Hsu will continue to lead Abbyson.
“We are delighted to welcome Lee to our family,” said Hsu. “With his exceptional decades-long experience, impressive track record of innovation and proven leadership skills, I’m confident Lee is the perfect person to lead our companies to the future growth and success we envision.”
Boone most recently comes from upholstery supplier Luxfort Home. Prior to that, he served as president for Home Meridian, Samuel Lawrence and Legacy Classic.
“Green River has long held established manufacturing operations in Southeast Asia. Now it has acquired four well-known furniture marketing brands with proven management teams, inspired product lines, and an engaged customer base,” Boone said. “It will be my job to lead the effort to create the vision, winning strategy and culture for these companies.”
Green River’s expansion in the American furniture industry has been swift. In the past six months, it has acquired Vogue Home, a Mississippi-based stationary and upholstery manufacturer; Hawthorne Home, a producer of electric fireplaces and vanities formerly known as Greentouch USA; and HH2, formerly known as Hillsdale Furniture, a case goods manufacturer selling through e-commerce, big-box and furniture stores.
Boone told Furniture Today he was hired due to his extensive background in furniture, notably his time leading HMI. “Green River looked at my background I think, particularly my time at HMI, and I think they said they needed an HMI-like structure in the U.S.”
He plans to bring more cohesion to the three brands, which aren’t similar to each other. “It’s going to be the intention to bring them together but not as a consolidation,” Boone said. “I’m going to try to create more synergies and more background efficiencies.
“The first thing I’m going to do is listen,” he continued. “I have a big learning curve with these companies. I’m going to chart a course forward. With the input of these great people and employees, we can develop a great strategy. It’s my role to encourage these employees. They’ve been through a lot. I’m going to try to lead them to success. I’m not throwing anyone overboard.”
At Luxfort, Boone is working with company owner Peter Shi to find new leadership. “I’m going to help him with the transition with a new leader,” he said. “I’m not just going to walk away and leave a mess.”
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