Lumber Liquidators combines chief merchandising, marketing roles

Toano-based Lumber Liquidators has combined the roles of its chief marketing and merchandising officers.

Marco Q. Pescara, the company's chief marketing officer since 2006, will serve as the firm’s chief merchandising and marketing officer, effective June 19. At that time, the employment of William K. Schlegel, Lumber Liquidator’s chief merchandising officer, will end.

As chief marketing officer, Pescara developed Lumber Liquidator’s brand and customer strategy. In his new position, he will lead the company's marketing and merchandising functions.

“By coordinating the merchandising and marketing departments under his leadership, I believe we will be better situated to identify and satisfy customer demand for our assortment of flooring products and accessories,” Thomas D. Sullivan, Lumber Liquidators’ founder and acting CEO, said in a statement.

The announcement is one of several executive-level changes at the company lately. Last month CEO Robert M. Lynch resigned. The firm’s chief financial officer Daniel E. Terrell also stepped down in June. Gregory A. Whirley Jr. took over as interim CFO and senior vice president, finance.

The hardwood foor retailer has come under fire after a March report by CBS’ “60 Minutes” questioned the safety of its Chinese-made laminate floors. The report alleged that the Chinese floors contained unsafe levels of formaldehyde. Lumber Liquidators said last month it would stop selling laminate floors sourced from China as it investigates the practices of its suppliers.