Former Steelcase™ Director Joins Watson™ as New VP

POULSBO, Wash., Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Watson is pleased to announce that on November 29th, 2010, Steve Hayes, former Director of Global Client Collaboration for Steelcase, joined Watson Furniture Group as the new Vice President of Sales overseeing all Watson brands - Watson Dispatch™, Watson Desking™, and Magna Design by Watson™.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101213/SF16665)

According to Clif McKenzie, Watson CEO, "We are thrilled to have Steve with us. His industry experience will have an immediate impact on our Company.  But perhaps as importantly - Steve was born and raised here in the great Pacific Northwest and connects well with the ethos of our organization."

Steve comes to Watson with 22 years of national and international contract furniture experience, having first joined Steelcase in 1988 as a Market Manager in Seattle.  From 1996 to 2000, he served as Director for both the Wood Resource Group and Sales Resource Team at the Steelcase Global Headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  From 2000 to 2003, Steve was General Sales Manager for Steelcase, Asia Pacific, where he had sales responsibilities for Asia and was based in Hong Kong.  In 2003 he returned to the United States as Area Sales Manager for Steelcase in the Pacific Northwest.  In his most recent role as Director of Global Client Collaboration for Steelcase, Steve and his team were responsible for serving many of the corporation's most strategic global customers.

Steve has a BA from Seattle University and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP).

About Watson

Watson (aka Watson Furniture Group) designs and builds office furnishings for business, education, and institutional enterprises.  Watson is comprised of three corporate divisions: Watson Desking, creating European-inspired, free-standing office furnishings; Watson Dispatch, the nation's leading supplier of console furniture for the 24/7 public safety communications environment; and Magna Design, an industry leader in modular case-goods, desking systems and conference rooms.

For 50 years, Watson Furniture Group has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to quality manufacturing, outstanding customer service, and corporate responsibility — toward employees, neighbors, and the environment. For more information about Watson, please visit our Web site, www.watsonfurniture.com.

SOURCE Watson Furniture Group