La-Z-Boy nominates Dominos exec to board
MONROE, Mich. —La-Z-Boy has nominated Michael T. Lawton to serve a one-year term on the company's board of directors. La-Z-Boy shareholders will get to vote at the annual meeting, Aug. 21.
Lawton has served as the EVP and CFO of Domino's Pizza since 2010. He joined Domino's in 1999 and, during his tenure, held positions of increasing responsibility at the company, including EVP of international. Prior to joining Domino's, Lawton was the SVP and COO of Gerber Products Company, now a subsidiary of Nestlé S.A. While at Gerber, he held various financial and general management positions. Lawton began his career at Ernst & Whinney, now Ernst & Young.
“Michael is a high-caliber, well-seasoned financial executive with a wealth of consumer, retail and international experience that will translate well to our business,” said chairman, president and CEO Kurt L. Darrow. “We look forward to his perspective and the contribution he will make to our company. Long-range succession planning and continuity is of paramount importance to our company. With a number of board retirements expected over the next several years, the board believes it prudent to expand the number of directors at this time to help ensure an orderly transition. This has proven to work well for us and has become a matter of practice."
Lawton has a B.A. in accounting from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He is also a certified public accountant and serves as board president for Aim High School, a private school for high-functioning students on the autism spectrum.
The company has increased the board's size to 11 directors, effective at the upcoming annual meeting. Shareholders will be able to nominate a candidate for the new position by providing written notice containing the requisite information as provided in the bylaws to the secretary before the close of business on July 11.
La-Z-Boy is a leading residential furniture producer that markets furniture for every room of the home.