Li & Fung USA hires Casali and Matthews to manage Royal Velvet

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 5/24/2004 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

Li & Fung USA, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based global sourcing group Li & Fung Ltd., has hired two home furnishing professionals to head up a new team that will manage the Royal Velvet licenses both domestically and internationally.

Louis Casali Jr. joins Li & Fung as senior vice president and general manager. With more than 18 years of experience in the home furnishings industry, he will be responsible for managing the Royal Velvet bath, bed and kitchen licenses.

Most recently, Casali managed a sales team responsible for all department and specialty store sales at Dan River, Inc. From 1996 to 1998, he was responsible for executing sales and marketing plans to expand the customer base and distribution channels at Intercontinental Art, Inc. Prior to that, Casali managed and directed the sales, marketing and merchandising at Crown Crafts, Inc.

Ann Shapiro Matthews joins Li & Fung as vice president of retail merchandising and will report directly to Casali. Matthews has been associated with Li & Fung for four years, working in various capacities. She was previously a senior merchant at Mervyn's, responsible for all bedding and coordinates.