In a letter to colleagues and friends, Dara Mir, president and CEO of 9to5 Seating announced he was stepping down from active leadership at the end of the month to spend more time with his family.
The emotional letter describes how the company that was started by his parents, Darius and Susan Mir, has been a significant part of his life for more than two decades.
“After much consideration, I have decided that it is time for me to pass the baton and spend more time with my family. I am not going far however. I will continue to be involved with 9to5 Seating as a member of the supervisory board and working with Flokk to ensure 9to5 Seating’s continued growth,” he wrote.
Flokk Group, a European manufacturer of office seating products, acquired 9to5 Seating in November 2019 to expand its footprint in the US market, underpinning its international growth strategy.
Founded in California in 2004, 9to5 Seating developed into an established manufacturer of office seating products in the US market by combining style, value and quality. (see officeinsight 8/22/2022) 9to5 Seating grew quickly and has sales of about $100 million, a nation-wide distribution network of more than 1,000 dealers and about 300 employees at its manufacturing sites in Los Angeles and Guangdong, China.
Mir said in his letter that he is filled with an immense sense of pride and gratitude for what 9to5 Seating and its partners have achieved together. “When my parents and I started this company all those years ago, we had a simple dream: to create a business that would not only provide quality and innovative office seating at competitive price points, but would also be a place where team members would feel valued, respected, and appreciated. I am happy to say that we have accomplished that and so much more,” he said.
The company’s story begins earlier than the 9to5 Seating brand. Darius and Susan Mir, Iranian immigrants, left their homeland for a better life. He would find his way to the office furniture industry by importing early ergonomic seating products from Italy, becoming one of the first ergonomic seating distributors in the U.S. in the early 1980s.
It is one of the first office furniture makers to bring production and jobs back from China by driving efficiency throughout its U.S. plants. Its plants in Los Angeles and Tennessee are models of efficiency and vertical integration.
Dara Mir said that over the years, the company has faced challenges and opportunities, but always tackled them together, as a team. “I am humbled by the commitment, hard work, and dedication of each and every one of you,” he wrote. “You have been instrumental in making 9to5 Seating the success that it is today, and for that, I am forever grateful.”
Dara Mir said he is confident the company will continue to thrive under the new leadership of Frederik Fogstad and its existing leadership team. Fogstad currently serves as senior vice president of Flokk’s international business. He joined the company in 2013 and has responsible for sales to all markets outside Europe. Prior to joining Flokk, Fogstad held positions in Varier Furniture, Intersport, Kellogg’s, Middelfart and Coca-Cola.
It was an honor and a privilege to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team, said Dara Mir, who added that he would always cherish the shared memories and experiences.
“Lastly, I want to thank my parents, Darius and Susan Mir, for having the vision, courage, and determination to plant the seed that this company sprouted from. Without their support and guidance, I would not be where I am today. I have had many great mentors throughout my career. I would be remiss if I did not also thank Mike Heazlitt for teaching a young engineer about sales,” he wrote.