Hooker Furniture president to retire

Alan Cole, president of Hooker Furniture Corporation, has announced his plans to retire at the end of the company's fiscal year on Feb. 2, 2014.

"The timing is as perfect as it could possibly be," said Cole. "We have been very intentional in our succession plans for an orderly transition, and we are exactly where we wanted to be at this time. It is gratifying to see that our organization is well positioned with good momentum and that important new initiatives have been launched and are moving forward. I don't think we could have written a better scenario. The confluence of events over the last seven years has brought us exactly to the point we wanted to be as a company, and now I'm looking forward to turning my attention towards my family and a very active retirement."

Cole has been with the company since 2007, having stepped in as EVP of the company's Upholstery Operations. Before taking the helm of the company, he also briefly served as president of Hooker Upholstery.

"We greatly appreciate Alan's profound contributions to Hooker Furniture, Bradington-Young and Sam Moore," said Paul B. Toms Jr., chairman and chief executive officer. "The strategic vision and team-building he has brought to our organization, as well as the two new businesses he conceived and launched, will make this a stronger company for many years to come."

Cole will be succeeded by Michael Delgatti, who is currently president of Hooker Upholstery, as well as EVP sales for Hooker Furniture Corporation.