Ethan Allen Interiors has begun searching for a new chief executive to succeed Farooq Kathwari, who has led the publicly traded furniture retailer for nearly 40 years. The Danbury, Connecticut-based company said Monday that it hired a nationally recognized executive search firm to consider internal and external candidates, with the board committed to naming a successor by June 30, 2027, when Kathwari’s current contract ends. Kathwari will remain a nonexecutive board member until Ethan Allen’s 2027 annual shareholder meeting. The process follows investor Doug Bergeron’s campaign for new leadership and board changes, including the nomination of six alternative director candidates.