Our History
Innovation and flexibility have been Haworth cornerstones since the company was founded in 1948. These principles remain our driving force today, as chairman Matthew Haworth and president and CEO Franco Bianchi lead a worldwide effort to create great, adaptable workspaces.
Originally named "Modern Products", the company was founded by G.W. Haworth, who was driven by two dreams: to start his own business and to put his five children through college. Today, those dreams have led to Haworth becoming a global leader in workspace solutions, with quality products and customer-focused members propelling our growth.
In the late 1980s, Haworth went global, expanding in North America, Europe, and Asia, and continuing to achieve more industry firsts. Haworth also earned awards for sustainability, leadership, community service, and member job satisfaction. In 1987 Haworth opened its first European subsidiary in London, UK, which now serves as the European Headquarters. Today the family-owned private Haworth, Inc. operates in more than 120 countries and employs 6,200+ members.
This expansion into Europe lead Haworth to acquire and incorporate many companies with even longer and more varied histories. While Haworth may have been founded in 1948, our history and experience now reaches back as far as the 19th century.