Doug Bergeron, a 5.2% shareholder who has invested significant personal capital, has nominated five proven operators to modernize the business, restore profitable growth and unlock Ethan Allen’s full potential.
Ethan Allen’s problem is not its brand or underlying business. It is the governance, leadership, strategy and execution overseeing them.


Ethan Allen has an iconic American brand, deep North American manufacturing capabilities and an impressive national retail footprint. Yet the Company has underinvested in brand building, innovation, digital capabilities, store experiences and customer acquisition – losing market share in a growing premium home furnishings category while competitors built multibillion-dollar platforms.


Ethan Allen has an iconic American brand, deep North American manufacturing capabilities and an impressive national retail footprint. Yet the Company has underinvested in brand building, innovation, digital capabilities, store experiences and customer acquisition – losing market share in a growing premium home furnishings category while competitors built multibillion-dollar platforms.


Despite repeated claims from the CEO that Ethan Allen is “well positioned,”1 the Company has failed to deliver meaningful growth for nearly two decades. Revenue, operating income, workforce and enterprise value have all declined materially since 2006 – a prolonged failure to turn valuable assets into sustainable growth.2


Despite repeated claims from the CEO that Ethan Allen is “well positioned,”1 the Company has failed to deliver meaningful growth for nearly two decades. Revenue, operating income, workforce and enterprise value have all declined materially since 2006 – a prolonged failure to turn valuable assets into sustainable growth.2


Ethan Allen’s Chairman and CEO has led the Company for 38 years. The Board announced a formal CEO succession process only after the launch of a contested election, and after Doug Bergeron and his nominees initiated their own CEO search. Shareholders must now decide which Board is best qualified – and prepared to act with the urgency required – to oversee Ethan Allen’s leadership transition and next chapter.


Ethan Allen’s Chairman and CEO has led the Company for 38 years. The Board announced a formal CEO succession process only after the launch of a contested election, and after Doug Bergeron and his nominees initiated their own CEO search. Shareholders must now decide which Board is best qualified – and prepared to act with the urgency required – to oversee Ethan Allen’s leadership transition and next chapter.


Ethan Allen is materially undervalued, but the obstacle is not the brand or underlying business – it is the governance, strategy and execution overseeing them. Doug Bergeron has invested significant personal capital because he believes a new Board and modern leadership can restore profitable growth and potentially triple shareholder value over three years.


Ethan Allen is materially undervalued, but the obstacle is not the brand or underlying business – it is the governance, strategy and execution overseeing them. Doug Bergeron has invested significant personal capital because he believes a new Board and modern leadership can restore profitable growth and potentially triple shareholder value over three years.
Proven operators prepared to govern, oversee a leadership transition and reignite growth.
1 Company earnings call transcripts.
2 FactSet.
Okapi Partners
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Gasthalter & Co.
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