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Farooq Kathwari is chairman, CEO and president of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., a leading home furnishings manufacturer and retailer. In addition to overseeing this international corporation, he also lends his considerable leadership skills to humanitarian efforts, including working for human rights and developing international conflict resolutions. read more... |
Interviews & Published Articles
Select Appearances and Events
| Oct 2020 | MALA & AJC Present: A Discussion with Author and Executive Farooq Kathwari
MALA and AJC hosted a special conversation with author and executive Farooq Kathwari, discussing his own triumphs, struggles, and journey as a businessman, a father, an author, and beyond. Mr. Kathwari set down with leaders from both MALA and AJC to tell his story, answer audience questions, and discuss his new book Trailblazer: From the Mountains of Kashmir to the Summit of Global Business and Beyond. |
| May 2020 | Ethan Allen CEO Receives Ascend A-List Award Honoring Outstanding Pan-Asian Leaders |
| Nov 2019 | Ethan Allen CEO Kathwari Reflects on His Journey to the C-Suite
Farooq Kathwari, Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. chairman and chief executive officer, discusses his book "Trailblazer," which details his journey from the mountains of Kashmir to the C-suite. He speaks with Bloomberg's David Westin on "Balance of Power" |
| Nov 2019 | Next retail revolution treating clients with dignity: Ethan Allen CEO
Farooq Kathwari appeared on CNBC’s Squawk on The Street, on Black Friday where he discussed the retail revolution and treating clients with dignity. |
| Nov 2019 | The Rabbi and the Revolutionary- Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and Ethan Allen CEO Farooq Kathwari, live from Stamford, Connecticut |
| Sept 2019 | Farooq Kathwari rings the NYSE opening bell to celebrate the launch of his memoir, Trailblazer September 6- The New York Stock Exchange welcomes Ethan Allen (NYSE: ETH) in celebration of the publication of Farooq Kathwari's memoir "Trailblazer". Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President & CEO, joined by Stacey Cunningham, NYSE President, rings The Opening Bell®. Click here for photos |
| Sept 2019 | Mr. Kathwari on CNBC, Squawk on The Street September 3, 2019- Mr. Kathwari was interviewed on CNBC, Squawk on The Street to share his perspective on business today, and to share the news on his newly published book, Trailblazer. |
| Oct 2018 | Mr. Kathwari on Bloomberg TV Mr. Kathwari was interviewed on Bloomberg TV. He had the opportunity to discuss how our business is positioned for growth in the coming fiscal year. |
| Sept 2018 | The Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants honors Ethan Allen’s Farooq Kathwari The Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) honored Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President and CEO of Danbury-based Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., with its Legacy Award at a gala dinner in Westport, CT., on September 23. |
| June 2018 | Farooq Kathwari Honored By Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute On June 12th, Farooq Kathwari accepted the Lifetime of Leadership Award of the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute during a ceremony at the 93rd Yale CEO Summit in New York City. The theme of the summit was The American Colossus: The Best of Times and the Worst of Times? Distinguished global corporate leaders from across industries engaged in lively, candid discussions at this invitation-only leaders’ conference hosted by the Yale School of Management. Click here to view the press release |
| May 2018 | Farooq Kathwari Receives Ellis Island Medal of Honor Farooq Kathwari was awarded the 2018 Ellis Island Medal of Honor on May 12 at a gala celebration at Ellis Island. The award, presented by the Ellis Island Foundation, recognizes “a select group of individuals whose accomplishments in their field and inspired service to our nation are cause for celebration… The Ellis Island Medals of Honor embody the spirit of America in their salute to tolerance, brotherhood, diversity and patriotism. Honorees may be native-born or naturalized, but most importantly, they are individuals who have made it their mission to share their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents, and selfless generosity with those less fortunate.”. Click here to view the press release |
| March 2018 | NYU Stern C-Suite Speaker Series: A Conversation with Farooq Kathwari On March 14, Farooq Kathwari sat down with NYU Professor Mike Posner for a conversation about his career, leadership, and advocacy efforts involving refugees. Click here to view the recording: |
| Jan 2018: | Farooq Kathwari on CNBC's Power Lunch Mr. Kathwari appeared on CNBC’s Power Lunch where he discussed earnings, the company’s advertising strategy, and Ethan Allen’s 86-year history of manufacturing in the United States. |
| Nov. 2017: | Mr. Kathwari on CNBC on Black Friday Mr. Kathwari appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Alley on Black Friday where he discussed the importance of combining personal service with technology in our business today, as well as how Ethan Allen is competing and innovating in the e-commerce space. Click here to view the interview. |
| May 2017: | Farooq Kathwari Delivers Keynote Address at NYU Stern School of Business Graduate Convocation Mr. Kathwari had the honor of speaking to the graduating class of NYU’s Stern School of Business Graduate program during its convocation ceremony on May 19th at Madison Square Garden in New York City. During his speech, titled “The Activist CEO in a Multicultural World,” he shared his perspective on leadership. Citing his own experiences, Mr. Kathwari stressed the need to manage a socially responsible enterprise while also focusing on sound financial performance. He also shared his expertise as it relates to organizing humanitarian efforts Mr. Kathwari reflected on the reinvention of Ethan Allen, an iconic American brand steeped in history. He spoke to the Leadership Principles he developed more than 25 years ago—principles that still guide him and his associates today. These include the call to work hard, to recognize that change is opportunity, to understand the relative importance of issues, and to always incorporate justice in business. To see the keynote address, click here. |
| April 2017: | Arthur W. Page Spring Seminar Mr. Kathwari recently engaged in a fireside chat — as part of the Arthur W. Page Spring Seminar — where he shared his thoughts on what Chief Communications Officers can expect to encounter when their CEOs engage deeply in activist causes. Founded in 1983, the Arthur W. Page Society is the world's leading professional association for senior public relations and corporate communications executives and educators who seek to enrich and strengthen their profession. To view the fireside chat, click here. For more information on the Spring Seminar, click here. |
| March 2017: | Farooq Kathwari speaks at the Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Summit NY 2017 Mr. Kathwari was a recent keynote speaker at the Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Summit NY 2017 where he shared insight on how investors and shareholders could help direct and shape a company’s corporate governance and its relationship to outside stakeholders, and how CEOs and corporate boards could engage investors to adopt a long-term vision. The Summit — which ran from March 27-28 at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge — brought together some of the most innovative and inspiring brands in responsible business. For more information on the summit, Click here. |
| November 2016: | Farooq Kathwari Rings the NYSE Opening Bell to Celebrate Launch of Ethan Allen I Disney collection To celebrate the launch of the Ethan Allen I Disney collection on Mickey Mouse's birthday, Farooq Kathwari rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Click here to view the bell ringing. Click here to view thestreet.com interview Click here to view the CNBC Squawk on the Street interview |
| October 2016: | Farooq Kathwari speaks at the South Asian Leadership Conference at the University of Pennsylvania On Sunday, October 16th, Mr. Kathwari was one of six speakers to address students at the South Asian Leadership Conference at the University of Pennsylvania, where he shared with them the story of his own journey from student to CEO. The conference is an opportunity for South Asian students to unite across the campus to exchange ideas, socialize, and become exposed to professional communities and opportunities. The conference was held at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine (3400 Civic Center Boulevard, South Tower, 5th Floor) in Philadelphia from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. |
| July 2016: | Chief Executive Group Rings The NYSE Closing Bell Mr. Kathwari attended the 31st annual Chief Executive of the Year Reception and Dinner at the New York Stock Exchange on July 25th following the ringing of the NYSE Closing Bell by executives and guests of Chief Executive Group. |
| May 2016: | Farooq Kathwari delivers keynote to Kathwari Honors Program graduates at WCSU As keynote speaker at Western Connecticut State University's Honors Convocation ceremony, Mr. Kathwari had the honor of addressing the first graduating class of the Kathwari Honors program since the program was named in honor of his son, Irfan Kathwari, last year. To view photos from the event, please click here. |
| April 2016: | Farooq Kathwari receives Spirit of Life® Award from City of Hope On Sunday, April 17th, Mr. Kathwari was honored with a Spirit of Life® Award at the International Home Furnishings Industry Spirit of Life Award Dinner at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC. The Spirit of Life® Award is presented to individuals who have made a difference: people who have influenced the industry with their character, leadership, and philanthropy. Click here to read the story on furnituretoday.com Click here to read the press release |
| February 2016: | Mr. Kathwari interviewed by TheStreet.com Following yesterday's NYSE bell ringing, Mr. Kathwari sat down - on Ethan Allen furniture - with Rhonda Schaffler from TheStreet.com to share what's new at Ethan Allen, including the company's celebration of American craftsmanship, the upcoming collaboration with Disney and a strong second quarter. |
| February 2016: | Mr. Kathwari Rings the NYSE Opening Bell In celebration of American craftsmanship, Ethan Allen visited the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, where Chairman, President & CEO, Farooq Kathwari, rang the Opening Bell. Click here to view. |
| January 2016: | Mr. Kathwari on Mad Money Mr. Kathwari sat down with CNBC's Jim Cramer to discuss all of Ethan Allen's latest news including Q2 earnings, the company's digital strategy and being in the business of personal service. To see the interview, Click here |
| December 2015: | Mr. Kathwari on Bloomberg GO Mr. Kathwari appeared on Bloomberg Television to share his perspective on business today, including Ethan Allen's recent shareholder meeting, the company's digital strategy and being in the business of good personal service, Click here to see the interview. |
| December 2015: | CEO2CEO Digital Transformation Summit The New York Stock Exchange welcomed Mr. Kathwari and fellow CEOs attending Chief Executive's CEO2CEO Summit to ring the day's opening bell. Later, the panel at which he was invited to speak—"Overcoming the Real World Challenges of Digital Transformation including Talent Shortages, Cybersecurity, and Disruptive Competitors"—addressed the kinds of change required for a company to realize the full potential of new technology. Mr. Kathwari shared the many ways in which Ethan Allen continues its digital and technological transition. For more information on the summit,click here. To see the NYSE bell ringing,click here. |
| May 2015: | Mr. Kathwari on Bloomberg TV Mr. Kathwari was a special guest on “Bloomberg Markets" this morning, sharing his thoughts on the housing market with Bloomberg’s Michael McKee, Scarlet Fu and Erik Schatzker. He discussed consumer attitudes, how Ethan Allen is differentiating itself as a brand, and, of course, our new 328 page book of ideas and inspiration, Muses! Click here to see the interview. |
| May 2015: | Mr. Kathwari on Mad Money with Jim Cramer Mr. Kathwari sat down with Jim Cramer on the set of CNBC's Mad Money to discuss Ethan Allen's plans to grow the business. They discussed the company's recent initiatives including new product introductions, and the launch of the new book, Muses. Click here to see the interview. |
| April 2015: | Mr. Kathwari speaks at Hofstra University Mr. Kathwari spoke on "Journey to CEO Success: Path from Graduate Business Student to Fortune 500 Company" on April 15th as part of the Zarb Executive Speaker Series for Spring 2015 at Hofstra University. The presentation took place at the University’s Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theatre. |
| April 2015: | Mr. Kathwari speaks at the Symposium on ASIA-USA Partnership Opportunities (SAUPO) On April 19th, Mr. Kathwari joined more than sixty speakers—government officials, scholars and corporate decision-makers from North America, Asia, Europe and Africa—who came together to share their perspectives on building and managing strategic partnerships in a global economy. The daylong symposium, which has been organized by the Asian Studies Program at Kennesaw State University since 2011, is the South's largest Asian business conference. |
| March 2015: | Mr. Kathwari and wife Farida donate $1M to WCSU Farooq Kathwari and wife, Farida have donated $1M to Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) in support of the school's honors program. View press release here. |
| March 2015: | Mr. Kathwari at Raymond James Mr. Kathwari spoke at the Raymond James 36th Annual Institutional Investors Conference in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday, March 3rd. Click here to view transcript. |
| Feb. 2015: | Mr. Kathwari speaks at WCSU Ancell School of Business As part of the Ancell Leadership Forum series at The Western Connecticut State University; Farooq Kathwari spoke with Ancell School of Business Dean David Martin in a public forum on Tuesday, Feb. 24. |
| Feb. 2015: | Mr. Kathwari rings the opening bell at the NYSE At the request of the New York Stock Exchange, Mr. Kathwari rang the Opening Bell on February 27th to highlight the next reinvention of America's classic design brand. Click here to watch the video: |
| Feb. 2015: | Mr. Kathwari on the Bloomberg's "In the Loop" After ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange, Mr. Kathwari sat down with Bloomberg's Betty Liu to discuss the Ethan Allen's initiatives including a focus on North American manufacturing. See the interview here: |
| Feb. 2015: | Mr. Kathwari on TheStreet As part of a busy morning at the New York Stock Exchange, Mr. Kathwari sat down with Brittany Umar of TheStreet to talk about Ethan Allen's next reinvention including new products, a focus on North American manufacturing and the importance of giving customers good service. See the interview here: |
| Feb. 2015: | Mr. Kathwari on FoxBusiness.com Nicole Petallides of Fox Business interviews Mr. Kathwari on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange to discuss how Ethan Allen, 82 years young, is staying relevant. See the interview here: |
| Feb. 2015: | Mr. Kathwari on BNN Mr. Kathwari joined BNN's Kristina Partsinevelos for an interview focused on Ethan Allen's commitment to North American manufacturing and providing great service. See the interview here: |
| Feb. 2015 | Mr. Kathwari on Mad Money with Jim Cramer Mr. Kathwari recently sat down with Jim Cramer to talk about the major reinvention happening at Ethan Allen and how the company is thinking long term. Click here to see the interview. |
| Jan. 2015 | Mr. Kathwari on Fox’s Closing Bell Mr. Kathwari joined Closing Bell’s Liz Claman on the Fox Business Network to discuss the reinvention of America’s classic design brand, the company’s Q2 earnings and how he views consumer confidence today. Click here to see the interview. |
| Nov. 2014: | Mr. Kathwari on CNBC - Black Friday On Black Friday, Mr. Kathwari sat down with CNBC and shared how shifts in technology have impacted the business of American's Classic Design Brand. Click here to see the interview. |
| Nov. 2014: | Mr. Kathwari appears on Bloomberg TV's Market Makers Mr. Kathwari recently appeared on Bloomberg's "Market Makers" where he weighed in on several topics, including: the state of the economy and consumer confidence; the importance of offering consumers a combination of personalized service and technology in an age of instant gratification, and ways in which the company continues to use technology to meet the ever-growing consumer demand to buy direct. |
| Sept. 2014: | Mr. Kathwari is a Keynote Speaker at TIECON Florida 2014 Mr. Kathwari recently appeared at TIECON Florida 2014, where he was one of four keynote speakers—all accomplished business leaders—who were invited to inspire Florida entrepreneurs at the day-long event, held at the Tampa Convention Center on September 27th. Mr. Kathwari—one of America's longest-serving CEOs—gave the closing keynote speech and told his inspirational story, titled "The Journey of Entrepreneurship" to a packed hall, then took questions from members of the audience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF5UramGaP8 |
| Sept. 2014: | Mr. Kathwari on CNBC's Power Lunch Mr. Kathwari joined CNBC's Tyler Mathisen during this edition of "Power Lunch" to weigh in on how the world views U.S. businesses. To see his take on the "Corporate Perception Indicator", click here: |
| May 2014: | Bloomberg Panel Discussion - The New Paradigm of Asian Influence One of three panelists, Mr. Kathwari participated in this discussion moderated by Bloomberg TV's Scarlet Fu to discuss how Asian leaders are establishing a more influential voice across industries. He , along with others, shared his personal experiences and challenges in breaking social norms. |
| May 2014: | Mr. Kathwari on MSNBC Mr. Kathwari was featured on MSNBC's Your Business as part of their Learning from the Pros series. The series asks CEO's of successful companies to share their secrets for success that can help and inspire small business owners and other entrepreneurs. Among other topics, Mr. Kathwari talked about the importance of getting your team on board and why you can't be afraid of change. Click here to see the segment. |
| April 2014: | International Rescue Committee Afghanistan Report Launch Panel Discussion As an Overseer on the Afghanistan Task Force of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mr. Kathwari contributed insight that helped shape a new IRC report entitled, What’s Next for Afghanistan? Beyond 2014: Afghan Voices and Vision. The panel discussion, which took place at the IRC International Headquarters in New York City and included notable humanitarians, dignitaries, and members of the media, highlighted key issues outlined in the report. Click here to read the report. |
| February 2014: | Farooq Kathwari on Fox Business Mr. Kathwari recently appeared on Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman, where he discussed the housing market and the current state of business. Click here to read the report. |
| January 2014: | Farooq Kathwari on CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer Mr. Kathwari had the opportunity to sit down with Jim Cramer on the set of CNBC's Mad Money and discuss recent earnings, consumer confidence and how Ethan Allen is staying relevant in the marketplace - including the company's new On Demand initiative and creating promotions that spark urgency. Click here to see the interview. |
| December 2013: | Farooq Kathwari on CNBC's Fast Money Mr. Kathwari appeared on CNBC's Fast Money where he talked with CNBC's Melissa Lee about holiday retail plans, the strength of the housing market, consumer confidence and Ethan Allen's initiatives for 2014. Click here to see the interview. |
| November 2013: | Farooq Kathwari on CNBC's Squawk on the Street on Black Friday On Black Friday, Mr. Kathwari sat down with CNBC's Simon Hobbs and Kayla Tausche at the New York Stock Exchange to discuss Ethan Allen's initiatives - including "Black Friday Goes Red" - and the growing loss of credibility of retail pricing during the holiday season. To see the interview, click here. |
| November 2013: | Farooq Kathwari on CNBC's Squawk Box Mr. Kathwari appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box where he talked about consumer confidence, The New Eclecticism at Ethan Allen, and the company's migration from a leader in furniture to a leader in home fashion.Click here to watch the interview. |
| October 2013: | Asia Society Conference - Innovation 2013: From Silicon Valley To China Innovation – and innovative thinking – were on view at the Tianjin conference, which produced three days of frank dialogue and exchange from leading entrepreneurs, business executives, and policymakers from both China and the West. Mr. Kathwari was invited to speak at the conference, including a keynote discussion on October 31st with the President of the Asia Society, Josette Sheeran, entitled “Creating Innovative Economies in the Pacific Rim: Trends, Opportunties, and Challenges”. Click here to learn more about the event |
| October 2013: | Farooq Kathwari appears on Bloomberg TV's Market Makers Mr. Kathwari spoke with Erik Schatzker and Stephanie Ruhle on Bloomberg Television's Market Makers today where he shared his "View From Main Street" and discussed consumer confidence and the U.S. economy.Click here to watch the interview. |
| September 2013: | Global Leadership for Social Impact – Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley Mr. Kathwari spoke with students, faculty, and alumni on September 25th as part of the Schwab Charitable Philanthropy Series, in coordination with Dean’s Speaker Series at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. The talk focused on how successful global leaders must address the ways in which their efforts affect local peoples and incorporate social efforts to have a positive impact in the world. |
| September 2013: | Farooq Kathwari on Bloomberg Market Makers Mr. Kathwari sat down with Erik Schatzker and Stephanie Ruhle from Bloomberg TV's Market Makers to discuss factors impacting consumer confidence, the reinvention of the Ethan Allen brand with the launch of The New Eclecticism and the company's commitment to North American manufacturing. Click here to watch the interview. |
| July 2013: | Farooq Kathwari on Bloomberg's "Street Smart" Mr. Kathwari joined Bloomberg TV anchors Adam Johnson and Julie Hyman on "Street Smart" where he discussed topics including Ethan Allen's Q4 and FY 2013 earnings, the housing market, Ethan Allen's new direction and immigration reform. Click here to watch the interview. |
| May 2013: | Symposium on ASIA-USA Partnership Opportunities (SAUPO) On April 19, Mr. Kathwari was the keynote speaker at the 2013 Symposium on Asia-USA Partnership Opportunities, the largest Asian Business Conference in the Southern USA. Kennesaw State University organized the symposium as a platform for business leaders, scholars, diplomats, policymakers, and community leaders to share exchanges and views. More more information on this event, Click here to watch the video. |
| January 2013: | Mr. Kathwari on CNBC's Closing Bell Mr. Kathwari sat down with Bill Griffeth and Michelle Caruso-Cabrera on CNBC's Closing Bell to discuss short-term versus long-term thinking in today's business environment. He talked about how Ethan Allen is staying relevant as well as the company's commitment to U.S. manufacturing and investing in people. Click here to watch the video. |
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