Flooring News and Information

Lancaster, PA, Nov. 7— Armstrong World Industries will implement a strategic reorganization that combines its two major flooring operations. Armstrong Wood Products (AWP) and Armstrong Floor Products (AFP) will become a single operation, with one management team, fully integrating all flooring products into AFP.

"We needed an integrated flooring business," said Michael D. Lockhart, Armstrong chairman and CEO. "The reorganization aligns Armstrong's vast product selections of wood, vinyl, linoleum, laminate and specialty carpeted floor products, into a single organization."

In addition, Frank A. Riddick III has resigned as president and COO of Armstrong Holdings and as president and CEO of AWP to pursue other opportunities. "The further integration of Armstrong's businesses, which eliminates the need for my current role, will drive additional growth and is a decision I fully support," Riddick said.

Chan W. Galbato, president and CEO of Armstrong Floor Products, sees tremendous potential in combining wood floors with the resilient floor business. "This is a great opportunity for global integration of these critical components of hard surface floor coverings," Galbato said. "We are very excited about capitalizing on the synergies within Armstrong's extensive portfolio of floorcoverings. The separate sales and distribution systems for wood and resilient floors will remain in place."

Commenting on Riddick’s departure, Lockhart said, "Frank did a lot of great work for Armstrong. He played a crucial role in the Triangle Pacific and DLW AG, (European floor products) acquisitions, which gave us the number one position in the wood segment in the U.S., and the number two position in resilient flooring in Germany. In his role as COO for Armstrong Holdings, Frank had the courage to take on the leadership role at AWP and tackle the many challenging issues facing the business."

Riddick held three significant positions while at Armstrong, beginning as senior vice president for finance and CFO for Armstrong World Industries in April 1995. In March 2000, he became COO for Armstrong Holdings, and was made president in August 2000. In November 2000, Riddick was named to the additional post of CEO of AWP, the wood flooring and cabinet businesses Armstrong acquired in July 1998.

The wood cabinet business remains under the leadership of Chuck Engle, who will report directly to Mike Lockhart. Armstrong Cabinets is the fifth largest cabinet company in the U.S. Wood is one of the fastest growing segments of the floorcovering industry.