Lumber Liquidators Inc. (Toano, Va.) has twice been accused by international conservation organizations of purchasing illegally sourced wood product, and while the company denies these allegations in totality, it recently formalized its sustainability team as "part of its ongoing investment in quality and commitment to responsible sourcing," according to a statement.
That team is spearheaded by a man with extensive experience in corporate security, Raymond Cotton. As chief compliance and sustainability officer, a position Cotton was named to in February after three months as Lumber Liquidator's vice president of global security and risk, Cotton manages the company's compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements of global trade, among other areas.
Cotton reports directly to Lumber Liquidators' President and CEO Robert Lynch.
"Sourcing quality products direct from worldwide mills is central to Lumber Liquidators' value proposition," Lynch said in a statement. "The diversity of our products and scale of our purchases requires an ongoing commitment to sustainable forestry, and Ray is a key member of the team of professionals we employ around the world who are dedicated to quality control."
Cotton's efforts to build on the company's ongoing sustainability efforts will be abbeted by the management team's two other executives, Lynch said.
Joining Cotton is Lisa Kuca and Rebecca Rizzuti, the directors of global product compliance and global trade and customs compliance, respectively.
Photo of Raymond Cotton via RayCotton.com
