by MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Paul A. Huckfeldt, Hooker Furnishings’ longtime chief financial officer and senior vice president finance and accounting, will be retiring Feb. 2.
Huckfeldt, who joined the company in 2004 and has been CFO since January 2011, will remain on the company’s board of directors, which is expanding from seven to eight members effective Feb. 3.
Huckfeldt will be succeeded by C. Earl Armstrong, who as CFO will serve as the company’s principal financial officer and accounting officer.
Armstrong joined the company in 2009 as manager of financial reporting and served as director of accounting from January 2013 to January 2016. He was then corporate controller from February 2017 to June 2019 and was corporate controller and secretary from June 2019 through April 2024. He has been senior vice president of finance and corporate secretary since April 2024.
In February 2021, he also was named CFO of the company’s Home Meridian segment, a role in which he also oversaw the Samuel Lawrence hospitality division between November 2021 and December 2023.
“Earl is a vital member of our management team,” said Jeremy Hoff, chief executive officer. “He is an exceptional leader and cultural fit with a tremendous work ethic who is very capable and respected throughout the organization. He is ready to take on this responsibility, and we are confident in him and excited to have him serve in this role.”
Hoff also thanked Huckfeldt for his more than 20 years of service to the company, including his 14 years as chief financial officer.
“Paul was instrumental in guiding Hooker through its recent strategic acquisitions and the 2020 Covid crisis and aftermath,” Hoff said. “He exemplifies so many aspects of Hooker’s culture including an incredible work ethic and a strong servant-leadership mentality. We wish him the best as he transitions to a well-deserved retirement and look forward to his strong and immediate contributions as a member of Hooker’s board.”
Board Chair W. Christopher Beeler Jr. said it will greatly benefit the company and its shareholders to have Huckfeldt’s “continued involvement at the company in this new and different capacity.”
“In making this decision, the board carefully considered the regulatory limitations that apply to a non-independent director and considered board succession planning needs,” Beeler added. “Consequently, the board concluded that Paul’s 14 years of experience as chief financial officer, his familiarity with Hooker’s strategy, operations, board deliberations and personnel, along with relationships with our major shareholders and the investment community, will enable him to make important and immediate contributions as a board member. We greatly value Paul’s input and insights and look forward to his significant contributions.”
