Contact: Lauren Murray
Lauren.Murray@bvk.com
414-247-2173
Milwaukee – Verlo Mattress announced today that Kathy Thornton-Bias has been appointed president and chief operating officer of the growing sleep products company. Thornton-Bias will provide strategic leadership and oversee the daily operations of Verlo Mattress, building on the company’s commitment to thought leadership in sleep and sleep comfort. She reports directly to Chris Nolte, CEO of Verlo Mattress.
“With Marcus Investments’ long legacy of building entrepreneurial organizations, we are thrilled to have a leader like Kathy join the Marcus family of businesses,” said David Marcus, president of Marcus Investments, parent company of Verlo Mattress. “She is experienced in driving innovation within companies, and I am confident that she will expertly guide Verlo Mattress toward a future of continued growth.”
Thornton-Bias served as the North American president of Bang & Olufsen, where she executed brand strategy and business development within a distribution network. Thornton-Bias also boasts an extensive leadership background in the retail space with The Museum of Modern Art, InStyle, Saks Fifth Avenue and Target. Thornton-Bias’ ability to deliver consistent and sustainable revenue growth has earned her a reputation for results-driven, dynamic leadership.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Kathy join the leadership of Verlo, especially during an exciting time of evolution for the company,” said Nolte. “Kathy’s ability to lead teams through periods of growth by fostering strong partner relationships will be an important component in Verlo’s future.”
Thornton-Bias has been included on Essence’s “Game Changers: The Power List” and Ebony’s “Ebony Power 100” for her many accomplishments in retail. She earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Virginia and holds an MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
“Verlo’s net promoter score [which measures customers’ willingness to recommend a company’s products or services] rivals anything I’ve seen in my 25-year career in the retail industry,” said Thornton-Bias. “I’m excited to join a company that places such a high value not only on its products but also on its customers.”
About Verlo Mattress
Verlo Mattress has facilitated billions of nights of comfortable sleep. Verlo is passionate about helping people to find the right sleep products – at the best prices – because so much depends on a good night’s sleep. Verlo mattresses are built on-site, sold at consumer-direct prices and serviced locally with a Lifetime Comfort Guarantee. Founded in 1958, the company is a franchise system with 37 locations nationwide, including 23 in Wisconsin. Acquired by Marcus Investments LLC in 2012, Verlo is headquartered in Milwaukee. For more information, visit www.verlo.com.
