Event Date: February 9, 2025, 11:30am – 1:30pm
Event Location: International Ballroom, JW Marriott

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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.