Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) introduced the leadership team
for the Home Furnishings, Casual Furnishings, and LuxeHome® industries
earlier today. The MMPI senior management leadership team brings more
than 100 years of continuity and experience and a renewed commitment to
excellence in these industries.
"Our commitment to the Home Furnishings, Casual Furnishings, and
LuxeHome® industries, as well as the other industries that The Mart
serves, remains strong under the experienced and talented leadership
team consisting of Katherine Flaherty, Julia Chappell, Byron Morton,
Madeleine Tullier, and Susan McCullough," said Myron Maurer, Chief
Operating Officer of The Merchandise Mart. "Our goal is to create an
organizational structure that optimizes synergies between industry
groups, better serves our customers and clients, and aligns our efforts
and individual strengths."
With the announcement last week of 26-year executive vice president John
Brennen’s departure, MMPI has reorganized its senior management team
under the direction of Maurer, a 27-year MMPI veteran who assumed
leadership of the organization one year ago.
Katherine Flaherty, VP of Building Products and Special Projects, who is
responsible for the Architects & Designers Building in New York and
launching LuxeHome®, the kitchen and bath retail concept in Chicago,
will now oversee residential home furnishings leasing at The Merchandise
Mart in Chicago. Ms. Flaherty has more than 30 years of industry
experience and has been a part of the MMPI leadership team for more than
20 years. Julia Chappell will continue to lead the Mart's residential
home furnishings marketing efforts.
Byron Morton, a 10-year MMPI veteran, will continue as VP of Leasing,
managing the Casual Market and NeoCon leasing efforts at the Mart.
Madeleine Tullier, Director of Sales for the Casual shows for the past
seven years, will continue to head those sales efforts.
Susan McCullough, Senior Vice President who has been with MMPI for more
than 25 years and oversees MMPI's Trade Show division, will now oversee
the International Casual Furnishings and Accessories Market and
Pre-Market. Ms. Tullier will also serve as a member of Ms. McCullough’s
tradeshow team.
“During the past two years, the Home Furnishings and Casual showrooms
have been consolidated on four floors representing over 700,000 square
feet of space, creating a strong and vibrant showcase for these
industries who are now well-positioned going forward,” said Maurer.
“Over 100 showrooms have significantly improved their presentations
during the last year.”
“We have continued to invest significant capital resources into The Mart
to serve the changing needs of permanent showrooms, tradeshows, and
office tenants,” said Maurer. During the past two years, MMPI improved
and reorganized The Mart's design center, casual furnishings and gift
permanent showrooms and invested significantly in infrastructure to make
The Mart the epicenter for commerce across multiple industries,
including a new Design Center Resource Lounge on the 14th floor. MMPI
has also improved cell phone coverage throughout the building.
The Merchandise Mart welcomes 38,500 people each business day and
millions of people each year. Visitors frequent The Mart's retail shops
and restaurants, LuxeHome® kitchen and bath boutiques, nine floors of
permanent showrooms for gift, home, outdoor and commercial furnishings,
20 major trade and consumer shows as well as hundreds of meetings and
special events, including Dream Home, the International Casual Furniture
and Accessories Market, CHILL, NeoCon, One of a Kind, the Chicago Gift
Market, and several apparel shows.
About MMPI
MMPI is one of the world's leading owners and
operators of showroom buildings and trade show facilities, bringing
buyers and sellers together in more than 100 market events, trade and
consumer shows and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart in Chicago and the Architects &
Designers Building and Piers 92/94 in New York City.
Vornado Realty Trust, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully
integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the
symbol VNO.
Copyright Business Wire 2014