La-Z-Boy’s CFO Prepares to Become CEO Amid Surge in Furniture Buying

La-Z-Boy Inc.’s finance chief is preparing to take the furniture maker’s helm as the company confronts a surge in demand and faces longer-term questions on how it will continue growing after the pandemic home-improvement craze ends.

The Monroe, Mich.-based company, known for its recliners, this week named Melinda Whittington its chief executive officer, succeeding longtime CEO Kurt Darrow, who is retiring. The changes take effect on April 25.