Furniture maker ‘re-aligns’ organizational structure

Furniture maker ‘re-aligns’ organizational structure

Herman Miller's "flagship" store in New York. Courtesy Herman Miller/Nicholas Calcott

A furniture maker in the region has shaken up its leadership team.

Zeeland-based Herman Miller announced yesterday a re-alignment of its organizational structure to best implement the company’s global strategy.

Four executive promotions, including Greg Bylsma’s appointment to president of Herman Miller’s North America contract business unit, were made to support the re-alignment.

"Over the past five years, we have increased our market opportunity through geographic and customer segment expansion,” Herman Miller CEO Brian Walker said. “This includes the acquisition of many brands that we believe are important to our long-term growth. These changes will further our efforts to build on their individual strengths and capitalize on the natural synergies within the segments."

In his new role, Bylsma, who was previously COO of Herman Miller North America, will oversee the centralized leadership for Herman Miller’s North America Contract business segment, which comprises the company’s government, health care and education businesses.

Herman Miller has also created a centralized leadership structure for Geiger, the Herman Miller Collection and Maharam lines of business, which will operate under the Specialty business unit. Steve Gane, who was previously EVP and president of Geiger and the Herman Miller Collection, will lead the Specialty brands unit as president.

To drive the integration of acquisitions, expand channels to market and developing technological capabilities, Herman Miller has combined the functions of strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions, channel development and information technology, which will be overseen by Jeremy Hocking, EVP of strategy and business development, who was previously SVP of strategic planning and business development.

Finally, Executive Creative Director Ben Watson has been promoted to chief creative officer. In his new role, Watson will help with the merging of creative direction and new product commercialization in a move intended to “foster innovation, elevate design execution and increase speed to market.”

The company also said that several executives will remain part of the executive leadership team: CFO Jeff Stutz; Andy Lock, international business president; Herman Miller Consumer CEO John Edelman; Herman Miller Consumer President John McPhee and Michael Ramirez, EVP of people, places and administration.

Herman Miller

Herman Miller, founded in 1905, generated $2.26 billion in revenue last year and employed nearly 8,000 people worldwide.

A supplier of office furniture and related technologies and services, Herman Miller was recently recognized for its commitment to a healthy work-life balance for its employees.