The last half of the duo that founded Chattanooga-based Tricycle Inc. is leaving the company, design director Lisa Blevins said Tuesday.
Former CEO Jonathan Bragdon, who founded the 25-employee company in 2002 with Michael Hendrix, has left to pursue other endeavors, she said.
Bragdon managed the business side of the Broad Street company, which produces digital carpet samples for major floor covering manufacturers, while Hendrix handled brand and design duties until he left the company in 2008.
Hendrix now leads the Boston studio for global design company Ideo.
Aern Hetem, whom the company described as an "industry technology veteran," will run Tricycle, said Ray Moncrief, company chairman.
"His wealth of experience and history of proven technologies are ideally suited to Tricycle's vision for the future of commercial interiors," Moncrief said. "We are confident his strategic approach to technology and customer relations will result in even more solid relationships with our existing and new customers."
Bragdon acknowledged that "this was a difficult decision." But he added that "there comes a time when leadership changes are natural, and now is that time."
Tricycle is "in great shape," he said, making his exit "a perfect end to a wonderful ride."
New CEO Hetem has spent 25 years in the technology industry, including more than 20 years in the interiors industry, Tricycle said. He was not made available for comment.