American Freight names Jim Brownell chief operating officer

DELAWARE, Ohio — Jim Brownell has been named chief operating officer at Top 100 company American Freight Furniture & Mattress here.

Brownell has more than 30 years of experience as a senior technology executive, “and brings extensive knowledge and creative innovation to the delivery of business value through management, technology systems, retail strategy, and sound business practices, to the chief operating officer position,” the company said in a release.

Previously, Brownell has been a senior director at Harbor Freight Tools, senior vice president at Top 100 companies Restoration Hardware and Williams Sonoma, and vice president of technology at ToysRUs.com. He also worked for 21 years at apparel retailer Gap.

In a statement, Steve Belford, CEO of 118-store American Freight, said the company was honored to have Brownell on its senior management team, noting, “his remarkable work experience, business strategy, and the respect he has earned in the retail industry.”