Now Under New Owner, M&M Office Interiors Appoints Office Furniture Veteran As New President and CEO

A veteran of the office furniture industry was recently named president and CEO of the Pewaukee-based company M&M office interiors after he and a group of local investors acquired the company.

Pierre Kordus, who spent 30 years at Building Service Inc., a Pewaukee-based office furniture retailer, including 18 years as President and Chief Operating Officer, was chosen to succeed the former owner and operator of M&M Tim rudd like its new boss. Rudd will remain with the company as a director and be responsible for the management and growth of its sales team. After leaving BSI in 2017, Kordus began to explore acquisition opportunities in various industries. He ended up stumbling upon Rudd, whom he had known for over 20 years. “He was looking for a transition plan, and I was,” Kordus said. Finalizing the deal took longer than expected due to the pandemic disruption. Kordus and Rudd had already started the due diligence process before the start of the pandemic. “We took a break,” Kordus said. “It was going to be a quick stop, then back to business. We said “pause” and ended up taking a hiatus for a year and a half from the pandemic. As offices closed and employees were sent home, the office furniture industry took a hit. Sales fell at M&M. But the business has started to see a rebound in recent months, Kordus said. The acquisition closed on September 30. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal brought together two former competitors, which will only serve to benefit the company, Kordus said. “Really what’s good for our employees and our customers is that Tim and I are very strategic,” said Kordus. “We clashed, and now we’re putting our heads together and going to be a powerful force in the market.” He also sees opportunities for growth in the market. “There is a change going on. Many employers and employees want more flexibility. … The thing that I have heard over and over again is “de-densification”. People can say that the office footprint is shrinking – they don’t necessarily reduce their space, but they push people away and create social distancing, ”he said. “Anytime there is a change like this, it’s an opportunity for companies like ours to help clients redevelop and change their office.” Employers are also turning to office furniture as part of a larger strategy to get employees out of their homes and back to the office. “I think the workplace is essential for creating a culture within a company to facilitate communication and collaboration, and in the long run, the creativity of a company relies on this collaboration and communication,” said Kordus. “The only way that will happen is in person. You can use Zoom for a little while, but ultimately it’s not equal to a live chat or the rich conversation that takes place between colleagues when they are collaborating.