Event Date: February 9, 2026, 11:30am – 1:30pm
Event Location: International Ballroom, JW Marriott

About Matthew Haworth

Chairman, Haworth Inc.

Matt Haworth joined the family business during the summer of 1983 with a job in manufacturing. In 1991, Matt started with the company full-time and began his career working at dealerships in Seattle, Washington, and Washington, DC. Later, he joined the sales team in Atlanta and has since held a wide variety of roles in marketing, manufacturing, planning and purchasing.

Some of Matt’s earliest memories are joining his Dad at work. “One day, I discovered a yellow, three-wheel vehicle with a horn that went about 5 mph. When you’re younger than 10, that’s pretty cool. I had no idea what we did but liked that scooter. Haworth members were as kind and thoughtful then as they are now and I have loved learning this business from that moment.”

Since 2002, Matt has served as part of the governing board for the company. He has participated in guiding the global strategy and setting performance targets. In 2009, Matt became Chairman and has overseen the company’s acquisition of a range of brands to support global business and individual priorities. His energy and leadership help Haworth strive for excellence, create great spaces and embrace corporate values.

Matt notes: “I believe we can affect the quality of the day wherever we are – while living, learning, healing, working and traveling. We can enrich lives by unleashing and amplifying human potential.”

With a heritage in the workplace, Haworth is the founding brand of the Haworth Group. This distinctive and broad portfolio is rich in design, innovation and craftsmanship. The Haworth Group includes iconic products and the world’s greatest brands: AIS,BuzziSpace, Cappellini, Cassina, Ceccotti Collezioni, Haworth, Hushoffice, Interni, JANUS et Cie, Karakter, Luminaire, Luxury Living Group, Poltrona Frau, Tuohy and Zanotta.

Matt is a native of Holland, Michigan. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana University; received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accreditation from the United States Green Building Council; completed Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Executive Program on governing family business; and completed Harvard University’s board governance program. He is a board member of the West Michigan Policy Forum and Western Theological Seminary

About Franco Bianchi

President and CEO, Haworth Inc.

Franco Bianchi has led the Haworth global organization since July 2005. Today, this includes:

• Commercial Interiors – designs and manufactures furniture and interior architecture solutions for working, learning and healing environments all over the world
• Lifestyle Design – the most iconic residential, hospitality and mobility interiors brands

Haworth’s family of brands includes Tuohy, AIS, Buzzispace, Hushoffice, Cassina, Poltrona Frau, Ceccotti Collezioni, Cappellini, JANUS et Cie, Luxury Living, Luminaire and Interni.

Franco served on the officer team in previous roles as Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Global Product Lines Management & Marketing and Vice President of Finance North America. He also served as General Manager of Haworth Italy, growing sales by nearly 50 percent with leading profitability, and held several positions in the European sector.

Franco’s leadership has played a key role in raising Haworth’s corporate design and innovation brand, including the 2014 acquisition of the Poltrona Frau Group. The addition of this Italian premium furniture design group expanded Haworth’s global strategy into residential and mobility interiors.

Franco began his career with Haworth in 1992. His prior experience includes consulting on mergers and acquisitions; a role as Senior Associate for the accounting firm Arthur Andersen; and serving as chief accountant in Montenegro, Italy. Franco spent 12 months in military service for NATO.

Franco holds a degree in Business and Administration from Bologna University in Bologna, Italy. In addition to English, he speaks fluent Italian and French.

Despite a schedule that has him circling the globe, Franco finds time to contribute his talents to his West Michigan community. Boards he has served on include: Business + Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Associations, Lacks Industries, Talent 2025, The Economic Club of Grand Rapids, and Davenport University. He is also a proud supporter of Opera Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Art Museum and ArtPrize. Franco and his wife, Alessandra, have two sons and enjoy being involved in the arts and spending time outdoors.