Raleigh, N.C.—Lars von Kantzow, president and CEO of Pergo, announced he will leave the world’s largest laminate floor-ing manufacturer on Oct. 1 in order to pursue other interests. “Pergo has been a great success story and I’ve had a terrific ride during my time here,” he said, “but, nine years of heading up a company is a long time by today’s standards and I feel the time is now right to move on.” Both von Kantzow and Pergo executives stressed there were no issues or specific problems to spark the resignation. In fact, the mill has been aware of his decision to leave for about a year. Raimo Issal, president and CEO of Pergo AB, the parent company, noted when von Kantzow first mentioned his desire, he was asked to stay to “help oversee the successful implementation in North America of the company’s worldwide action program.” “I couldn’t leave the company during the turmoil that hit at the end of last year,” von Kantzow said. “I owed it to Pergo, my employees and our customers to make sure things got turned around. And, now that we are once again running in the right direction, this is the proper time.”

“We are very sorry to see Lars leave the group,” Issal said. “He has been instrumental in making Pergo a household name in the United States as well as the undisputed market leader in laminate flooring. We are very grateful for his many contributions to the company.” Von Kantzow said Oct. 1 was picked so as to allow his successor the full opportunity to put together the company’s budget and operating plan for the new fiscal year. At press time, a successor had not been named, but von Kantzow said the company has begun an external search, a process in which he will be involved. “We will try to get someone new in by Oct. 1, hopefully sooner. Either way, I will be around to help with the transition.” Noting he does not have any prospects or plans for the next stage in his career, von Kantzow said he will help Pergo on a consultant basis until something comes along. Leaving a company he has been apart of for 12 years “was a difficult decision, but I’m very convinced it’s the right thing for me and the company. It’s good to get some new blood.”

During his tenure at Pergo, von Kantzow was charged with bringing the company to North America and introducing laminate flooring to United States consumers. He and his handpicked staff did more than that, as intensive marketing and advertising programs, along with the building of a solid distribution network, helped make Pergo more than a category leader, but a true brand within the American marketplace. In fact, nine years after entering North America, the Pergo name has grown to define the laminate category, such as Kleenex has done with facial tissue. “When we came here,” von Kantzow recalled, “we literally started from scratch; we didn’t even have a fax machine. Sure, there have been ups and downs, but through it all, we’ve managed to go from a $0 company to one that does more than $250 million and is a household name.” His one regret during this time was not pushing for more product development and channel differentiation sooner.

“In 1997 and 1998 we were so focused on establishing the laminate category and expanding our business by building a plant here that we did not spend enough time on innovation. That allowed other companies to make a greater impact sooner. They would have come in to the market anyway, but if we put more into product development and channel differentiation we may have been able to slow the rush down.” While he is unsure where his next career will be, von Kantzow noted he not only intends to remain in the U.S. with his family but is “very open to staying in the industry. I love floor coverings, but have not gotten that far in my thought process. I just feel the time is right for a change and while I had a job I could not rightfully go out and network. Now I can figure out my options and begin the process.”