Change continues to be the only constant for Home Furnishings Association member City Furniture, this time in the company’s C-Suite where Andrew Koenig has been promoted to president.
Koenig had previously served as vice president and chief operating officer for the company. His father, Keith Koenig, who co-founded the firm 47 years ago and had served as president, will remain as CEO of the company.
The move is hardly a surprise. Andrew Koenig, who spent a spring break immersing himself in kaizen management methods in Japan, has led City’s high-growth, continuous improvement process, boosting the firm’s productivity ever since he came aboard 12 years ago. His visionary “greening” of the company’s approximately 100 delivery truck fleet to run on natural gas has been recognized by national environmental groups and helped cut emissions by 47 percent.
Andrew Koenig credits Ron Wanek, chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries, with encouraging him to read the Art of War and later introducing him to the Japanese culture years ago. He became fascinated with Toyota and its rise through the highly competitive automobile industry. “It’s a phenomenal company with a fascinating culture that also happens to be very profitable. I think there’s a lot they are doing that our industry could be doing.”
Andrew Koenig’s new position comes in the midst of City Furniture’s ambitious $100 million expansion, most recently opening its first showroom in the Orlando area last November. A 120,000 square-foot superstore, also in Orlando near Mall at Millennia, is currently under construction.
Andrew Koenig said he wants to align his streamlining strategies with the company’s expansion goals but plans to get feedback from City executives and employees before doing anything. “There’s strength and intelligence in numbers versus one genius,” he said. “I’ve never known that one genius to work out.”
Keith Koenig said he’s confident his son’s vision can carry the company forward. “As COO, Andrew’s leadership has been transformational in every aspect of our operations, marketing, merchandising and human resources,” he said. “His track record for anticipating and realizing the potential of major economic and industry trends has positioned us to continue City Furniture’s significant statewide growth.”
