Ethan Allen Interiors CEO Search Initiated by Major Shareholder

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (NYSE: ETD) has launched a CEO search process, prompted by Doug Bergeron, a prominent shareholder with a 5.2% ownership stake through DGB Investment Inc. and affiliated trusts. Bergeron’s initiative follows a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2026, in which the company’s chairman and CEO stated that succession planning had never been raised as a board issue. However, the investor’s move signals a potential shift in leadership ahead of the company’s 2026 annual meeting, where stockholders will vote on director nominees and the selection of a new CEO. The search firm retained by Bergeron and his director nominees, including Kristine Miller—a former eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) chief strategy officer and Bain & Company executive with 24 years of retail leadership experience—will seek candidates with expertise in omnichannel retail, branded consumer businesses, and growth-oriented leadership. The process does not guarantee a successful appointment, as final selection remains contingent on board approval, which depends on stockholder election outcomes. Jennifer Harrison, another nominee with a 25,000-share stake, will also play a role in the board composition. The company’s incumbent chairman and CEO has served in the role for 38 years, underscoring the significance of this transition.