DUBUQUE, Iowa - Flexsteel leader Karel Czanderna has abruptly resigned from her roles as CEO, president, and director - effective immediately.
The company says her decision to retire wasn't because of any disagreement with the company.
“The Board is appreciative of Karel’s contributions to Flexsteel during her over six years of service,” said Eric Rangen, Flexsteel’s Chairman of the Board. “During her tenure, Karel has overseen a number of significant advancements to Flexsteel’s infrastructure and organization. The Board thanks Karel for the many contributions she made to Flexsteel.”
Flexsteel has named former senior VP of corporate services Jeff Bertsch as the Interim President until a new CEO and president is hired.
“With his over 35 years of involvement with the company, Jeff Bertsch is taking on the role of Interim President with the support of a strong Flexsteel senior management team, that will continue to focus on Flexsteel’s growth as one of this country’s largest furniture companies," Rangen said.
Flexsteel Industries is the seventh largest residential furniture manufacturer on the FDMC 300. Its main manufacturing location is in Dubuque, with five other plants throughout the United States and Mexico. Its sales were an estimated $467 million in 2015. Flexsteel employs around 1,400 workers.
Flexsteel was big news on Woodworking Network late 2016 after it announced it would abandon its manufacturing presence in Iowa, with plans to close its main plant and lay off 200 workers. Soon after however, the state of Iowa stepped in, offering the company a $10 million incentive package to stay. Flexsteel chose to remain in Iowa.
The news comes soon after the company announced a sweepstakes in which it would give one winner $5,000 in furniture.
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