Richard Ayers
Richard Ayers is the new chief executive officer and retains his role as chief financial officer of the Jones Family of Companies, headquartered in Humboldt, Tennessee. He is the first non-Jones family member to hold the CEO post.
“Even though he doesn’t have the Jones last name, Richard has not only held true to our founders’ core values in his 28-year commitment to the Jones family of businesses, Richard lives these values like a member of the family,” said Ralph Jones III, who was recently appointed executive chairman of the Jones Companies.
In the spring of 2014, Jones, then president and CEO, and Ayers, then managing director and CFO, began a process of realigning the corporate structure for the company, which includes Jones Companies Ltd., a supplier of products to the floor-cleaning industry, and Jones Fiber Products Inc., a manufacturer of engineered thermally bonded natural fiber products.
In his new role, Ayers is working with senior leadership to pursue the new strategic objectives of the company, which place a greater emphasis on building customer relationships.
“As the keeper of the values representing the owners, Richard has my utmost confidence that his guidance will sustain our corporate success and he has our full support to achieve the goals set before him,” said Ralph Jones III.
Ayers, a certified public accountant and a chartered global management accountant, spent 13 years in public accounting with national and regional CPA firms before joining Jones.
Ayers serves on the International Sleep Products Association Board of Trustees and is a past president of the National Cotton Batting Institute. He also served two terms as the institute’s vice president.
