Covington buys Heirloom, Bruno to head sales 

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/7/2008 1:50:00 PM

New York – Covington Fabric & Design has purchased the assets of Heirloom Decorative Fabrics of Westport, Conn., a converter owned and operated by Tom Bruno, a long-time decorative fabrics veteran who will join the company July 14 as vp sales and marketing, reporting to Roger Gilmartin, president and ceo.

Bruno had been vp of sales for the Spectrum Fabrics division of Covington Inds. and then for Covington itself. His first job in the decorative textiles business was at Waverly. Prior to starting Heirloom, he headed sales at Weathervane Hill and Tomkins Roth.

“Tom will assume the responsibility for the sales and marketing functions of the merged entities and brings back into our business an unparalleled knowledge and experience of the sector,” Gilmartin commented.

He added, “An important collateral impact of Tom’s appointment is that it will allow us to move Steve Marrandino back to lead up the sales team in our contract business. This is a growing segment in our industry, and this move will place the emphasis on this part of the business that needs and warrants it.”

“This acquisition, Tom’s arrival and the recent appointments of Marion Murray as creative director and John Severson as cfo should be a very clear message to all of the seriousness of our family’s commitment to restoring the Covington brand,” said Mark Kahan, Covington’s chairman. “Every company is judged by the quality of its executive leadership. We are now putting together the right management team to face the industry’s challenges and take the company forward to new heights.”