Case study
Company’s are about people first
Haworth, an office furniture and design company was founded in 1948. They are driven by two key principles, innovation and flexibility which have helped them succeed to where they are today. These principles remain our driving force, as chairman Dick Haworth and president and CEO Franco Bianchi lead a worldwide effort to create great, adaptable workspaces.
Originally known as Modern Products, the company's founder G.W. Haworth, was driven by two dreams—to start his own business and to put his five children through college. Today, those dreams have led to Haworth becoming a global leader in workspace solutions, with quality products and customer-focused members propelling our growth.
In the beginning, Modern Products represented a variety of wood products. But that shifted in 1954, with the development of modular office partitions, predecessors of panel systems. After that, the company focused on office environments. The company name was changed in 1976, with the introduction of the world's first pre-wired modular panel. That year, Dick Haworth also became president and CEO. Business remained centered around office furniture systems until the early 1980s, when office seating was added to Haworth's product offering. Since then, the company has continued to move toward complete workspace solutions.
In the late 1980s, Haworth went global, expanding in North America, Europe, and Asia, and continuing to achieve more industry firsts. Haworth also earned awards for sustainability, leadership, community service, and member job satisfaction.
Franco Bianchi becomes the President and CEO in 2005, after more than 10 years with Haworth in Europe. Dick Haworth assumed a new position as Chairman of the Board.
Today the family-owned private Haworth, Inc. operates in more than 120 countries and employs nearly 8,000 members worldwide.
Haworth believe’s that people are the most important asset: “Haworth is composed...