Westgate Recruits Johnson for Windows

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 8/8/2006 12:00:00 AM

At the New York Market — —

At the New York Market — Cheryl Johnson has joined Westgate in the new position of vp of window fashions and business development.

Johnson reports to Tom Coughlin, executive vp and general manager for bedding and window treatments. Westgate's parent company, Home Furnishing International, is making a substantial investment in building its window fashions business under Coughlin's leadership.

“Our fabric lines are very extensive and lend themselves beautifully to fashionable window treatments,” Coughlin said. “Therefore, we need a great merchant like Cheryl to optimize our offerings and create a comprehensive window fashions line.”

Johnson has more than 25 years of experience in the home fashions industry, designing window coverings and developing new businesses for leading companies including Croscill Home and Waverly.

Johnson said the company's vertical manufacturing operation in China gives it competitive advantage, especially when backed by access to fabric from the American Decorative Fabrics (ADF) division.

For the past year, Johnson served as vp for wood moulding at Neilsen Bainbridge, a supplier of frames, framed art and foam core. Prior to that, she worked for Croscill Home and Waverly for nearly two decades. Johnson was director of window for Croscill; her positions at Waverly included design director for home fashions and director of planning and merchandising.

Johnson began her career at Celanese, the now-defunct fiber producer.

The move is the latest in a series of appointments over the past year as the company moves rapidly to expand its category reach. Earlier this month, Home Furnishing International, the parent company of American Decorative Fabrics (ADF), Home Fashions International (HFI) and Westgate Interiors, announced that it would unify its corporate identity and marketing under the Westgate brand.