Formica Corp. will relocate its global headquarters from Warren, N.J., to an as-yet-undetermined site in the Greater Cincinnati area. The decision is part of a strategy to lower costs as Formica emerges from bankruptcy protection.

"Relocating the executive suite as well as the financial, accounting, tax and legal departments from New Jersey to the Cincinnati area makes sense from an operational and historical perspective," said Formica President and CEO Frank A. Riddick, III. "There really was no longer any reason to be in New Jersey other than that's where some of the former corporate executives lived."

Formica officials will also be closer to one of their largest plants, a sprawling, 1 million-square-foot manufacturing facility on Reading Road in Evendale.

Formica has selected the corporate services team of Ed Schreyer and Brad Meyer from the Cincinnati office of CB Richard Ellis to represent the company in its site search for the new executive offices, which is encompassing both sides of the Ohio River. The move is expected to be made by July 2004. Formica is seeking between 15,000 and 20,000 square feet. The new executive offices will be completely separate from the Evendale plant.