Ark Floors, a year-old wood flooring maker located near Pasadena, Calif., has hired former Hoboken Floors president Ira Lefkowitz as CEO. The company says he will immediately help launch a huge product push at Surfaces highlighted by 40 new exotic and distressed products. The ambitious rollout will more than double Ark Floors’ existing hardwood line.

Lefkowitz left Hoboken Floors earlier this year as part of a management change at the troubled distributor. According to Ark Floors’ North American sales manager Phil Reifinger, Lefkowitz has already been making a “big impact” at Ark Floors.

“We hired Ira about six weeks ago as CEO, and he’s an awesome guy with a lot of inside knowledge,” said Reifinger. He added that the company’s staff includes two regional sales managers, a marketing manager, six office support professionals, and several logistics and warehouse personnel. He noted that the company expects to hire two additional regional sales managers, including a post on the East Coast where the company hopes to open a new warehouse “by the first or second quarter of next year.”

The company is the U.S. arm of

A&W (Shanghai) Woods Co., one of the largest flooring manufacturers and importers of Brazilian timber in China, according to Reifinger. Though the company plans to move to nearby El Monte, Calif., next year, the current address is 22393 Tifal Ave., Irwindale, CA 91010. For more information, call (800) 918-6188, fax (626) 357-8593 or visit www.ark-floors.com.