search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
    • Breaking Flooring News
    • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
    • Carpet & Area Rugs
    • Hardwood
    • Installation Products
    • Installation Tools & Equipment
    • Laminate
    • Resilient
    • Specialty
    • Tile & Stone
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
    • Commercial
    • Residential
  • AWARDS
    • Installation Awards
    • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
    • Continuing Education
    • Webinars
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
    • FLOOR Podcast
    • Videos
    • TISE 2025 Videos
    • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Breaking Flooring News

Espe named Armstrong president/ceo

June 25, 2010

Armstrong World Industries' board of directors has named Matthew J. "Matt" Espe as the company's ceo and president. His appointment will become effective in late July. Espe succeeds Michael D. Lockhart, who stepped down in February.

Espe, 51, brings 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, distribution and management of global manufacturing businesses to Armstrong, with 22 of those years as president and ceo of GE Lighting.

"Matt brings a proven track record of placing a strong focus on customer service and profitable growth and is ideally suited to lead Armstrong into its next phase of growth," said James J. O'Connor, Armstrong's chairman. "Matt is an experienced executive who knows how to run large organizations efficiently and effectively. Throughout his career he has built businesses using systems and efficiency improvements, such as Six Sigma, to grow revenue and improve profitability. We are especially pleased to have Matt join Armstrong on our 150-year anniversary, a notable occasion in our company's storied history."

Espe joins Armstrong from Ricoh Americas Corp., a provider of document management services, where he serves as chairman and ceo. Prior to this role, Espe was chairman and ceo of IKON Office Solutions, a $4 billion office equipment distributor and services provider with 24,000 employees, which was acquired by Ricoh in 2008. During his tenure there he launched successive growth programs to increase global accounts, shifted products to a higher-end mix to reach higher-margin segments, and grew professional services through system and software solutions.

Prior to joining IKON in 2002, Espe was president and ceo of GE Lighting. In this role, he served on the Corporate Executive Council of General Electric. In his 22-year career with GE, Espe managed multiple functional areas, including sales, marketing, distribution and manufacturing, and across divisions, including GE Supply, GE Plastics, and GE Lighting. He brings a global perspective, having led businesses in Europe, Asia and North America.

"Armstrong is one of the most well-known and trusted brands in the industry. I'm privileged to be joining such a talented team whose dedication has produced an industry leader known for quality products and superior customer service. I'm looking forward to what we can do together to build on that success," Espe noted.

The board of directors plans to nominate Espe to serve on Armstrong's board after his appointment as ceo becomes effective. He is also a member of the boards of Unisys Corp. and Graphic Packaging Holding Co. Espe is an active volunteer and member of the board of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Idaho and has an MBA from Whittier College.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • resilient flooring

    The 7 Types of Resilient Flooring

    The resilient flooring category is comprised of many...
    Resilient Flooring
    By: Resilient Floorcovering Institute
  • QuickDrain USA’s ShowerLine linear drain

    Tips for Curbless Shower Installation Using a Linear Drain

    Consider these four tips when planning for a curbless...
    Flooring Installation Products
    By: Darryl Jones
  • 2024 New Flooring Product Guide

    2024 New Flooring Products Guide

    We explore this year's introductions in area rugs,...
    Floor Coverings
    By: FLOOR Trends & Installation Editors
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

AHF Products CEO Brent Emore

AHF Products Names Brent Emore CEO

NFM Kansas City Anso Gallery

Nebraska Furniture Mart's Second Anso Gallery Brings Collaborative Retail Model to Kansas City

balancing resource planning and budget control

How to Choose an Outsource Estimating Service That Aligns with Your Flooring Business


Download the Free Moisture Meters Guide

Events

December 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Investing in your Business

What's Your Top Business Investment Priority for 2025?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

See More Products

FLOORtalk podcasts - Listen Now

Related Articles

  • scott roy

    Roy Named President and CEO of Gilford•Johnson Flooring

    See More
  • Courson named HBI president, ceo

    See More
  • usgbc

    Ramanujam Named President and CEO of USGBC

    See More
×

We’re rolling out the red carpet of flooring knowledge!

Stay in the know on the latest flooring retail trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing