Executive changes at Currey and Kohl’s, new board members at HFA and Fairfield | Who’s in the News

Welcome to our weekly roundup of employee comings and goings and other people-related news across the home furnishings industry. Here’s the latest:

************************

**Ross Bradford has become president of Currey & Company. Headshot courtesy of the company.**

Currey & Company has named Ross Bradford president, assuming the role from Brownlee Currey. Currey will continue in his role as CEO, focusing on the creative, operational and financial aspects of the business while Bradford will lead sales and marketing efforts.

For the past year, Bradford has served as vice president of strategy and business development for the company. His career includes executive positions at Samsung, Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau, Hisense, Home Depot and Serta Simmons Bedding. The Georgia native worked with Robert Currey, the founder of Currey & Company, as a teen.

Currey has also brought on Mary M. Wilson, a former Cyan Design executive, as vice president of key accounts and Drew Alden, formerly with retailer Havertys, as director of furniture.

************************

Kohl’s has a new CEO – the third person to hold the position over the past four years.

The company’s board has selected Michael Bender to take the post, effective Nov. 23. Bender, a board member since 2019, has served as Kohl’s interim CEO since May 1. He became interim leader after the ouster of Ashley Buchanan, who had been on the job for less than four months.

Bender served as president and CEO of Eyemart Express, LLC, an optical retailer, from January 2018 to April 2022, and as president of that company from September 2017 to January 2018. Prior to joining Eyemart Express, Bender held various executive management positions at Walmart Inc., including chief operating officer of global e-commerce, EVP and president of the Walmart West business unit.

************************

New HFA board members include: Evan Faller, left, Jake Freedman, Ankush Gupta and Leah Kirkland

The Home Furnishings Assn. announced its 2026 officers and four additions to its board of directors on Nov. 20. Newest board members are Evan Faller, director of operations for Furniture Wizard Solutions; Jake Freedman, CEO of Dovr Media; Ankush Gupta, vice president of sales and growth for Décor-Rest Furniture; and Leah Kirkland, vice president of R&A Marketing, Inc.

The industry organization says the leaders will bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the board as the HFA continues its commitment to advancing the home furnishings industry and supporting its members.

RandiLynn Talsma of Blended Furniture Market is the 2026 HFA president while Jared Simon of Simon’s Furniture is president-elect. Dave Koehler of Top 100 retailer Johnny Janosik is immediate past president, and Eric Easter of Top 100 Kittle’s Furniture is secretary and Lenny Kharitonov of Emma Mason Furniture treasurer.

************************

At a special meeting of the board of directors, Fairfield elected Anne-Lindsay Beall as chairman. She becomes the first woman to hold the position since the company’s founding in 1921.

Beall succeeds her late uncle, John Beall, who led the board since 2015. A fourth-generation owner, she has been actively involved in Fairfield‘s leadership since 2021, serving on its executive committee and helping steer strategy alongside CEO Dixon Mitchell.