Shannon Lookabill was appointed vice president of product development at Universal Furniture, and Neil MacKenzie was named senior vice president of marketing, both positions taking effect in January. 1, 2023.
“Our goal is to be the easiest company to work with,” said incoming president Sean O’Connor. “The promotions of Neil and Shannon support our purpose to attract and retain customers, both in the retail and interior design community.”
In the newly created position, MacKenzie will work with O’Connor to oversee the day-to-day operations of the business. In March 2021, he was elevated to vice president of marketing after joining Universal in May 2015 as director of marketing.
MacKenzie oversaw the creation of the B2B ecommerce tools as well as the redesign of the website and social media and email marketing campaigns. She also oversaw the development of the brand’s digital ecosystem. Along with helping to launch the Designers Lounge in 2016, he has also worked on licensing deals and collaborations with prestigious interior design and lifestyle brands like Miranda Kerr, Coastal Living, and Garden and Gun.
Lookabill will direct the company’s case goods and upholstery lines in his new position and translate home trends into marketable products. Despite having worked as a contract designer for Universal Furniture since 2008, he only started working there full-time in June 2019.
The successful Past Forward, Tranquility, and Erinn V lines were also designed by Lookabill while he served as director of product development for Universal. Other Pinnacle Award-winning collections include Coastal Living Outdoor (outdoor collections) and Modern (luxury bedroom). collections. He created a virtual product development process that allowed new designs to be manufactured continuously during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite problems with the world’s supply chains.
Lookabill worked as a furniture designer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for 24 years prior to joining Universal. He obtained an art and design degree from Kendall College.
Source: furnituretoday.com
