Pergo's senior vice president, Tony Sturrus, has been named CEO and president of the company. An executive at Pergo since 2003 who had previously served as president of Baldwin Hardware for nine years, Sturrus will also retain his svp position overseeing the North American region. As he assumed the top position in the company, Sturrus confirmed that Pergo remained committed to expanding its product selection beyond laminate.

"We will continue to work according to the strategy to develop Pergo from a purely laminate flooring company to a flooring company," Sturrus said. "The activities of efficiency enhancement and improved competitiveness are progressing according to plan. We will utilize the strength of the Pergo brand and we will, during 2005, launch a number of new products," he continued, adding: "We will build on the strength and creativity of the Pergo organization, which has been responsible for many new innovations within flooring."

In making the appointment, the company's board also addressed "rumors" that Pergo was planning to move its headquarters to the USA. "With regards to these statements the board of directors has now clarified that the headquarters will remain in Trelleborg, Sweden," the company said.

In addition, Pergo said it has expanded the duties of its CFO Staffan Söderqvist. He will now also serve as the company's executive vice president.