Universal Forest names furniture exec to board

Universal Forest names furniture exec to board

Brian Walker.

Universal Forest Products has named a top furniture executive with a finance background to its board.

Universal Forest said last week that Brian Walker, president and CEO of Herman Miller in Zeeland, has been appointed to fill the 10th seat on its board of directors, effective immediately.

“Brian’s financial acumen, his global business perspective and his years of strong leadership at Herman Miller provide him with the background and skills we need to lead Universal into the future,” said William Currie, chairman, Universal Forest Products. “We are pleased he has joined our board, and we look forward to his contributions to our efforts and our success.”

Finance career

Walker was named president and COO of Herman Miller in 2003 and assumed the title of CEO in 2004.

He had earlier served as president of Herman Miller North America, overseeing the company’s core business operations for the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and as EVP and CFO for Herman Miller, where he developed a strong team of finance professionals and an "internationally respected finance organization."

He previously held various financial management positions within Herman Miller’s international operations.

Before joining Herman Miller, Walker worked as a CPA for the accounting firm Arthur Andersen.

Walker serves on the board of directors for several organizations: Briggs & Stratton Corporation; The Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research; and The Right Place in Grand Rapids.

He has also served as president of The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association and The Federal Reserve Bank of Detroit.

Walker is a graduate of Michigan State University.

Universal

Universal Forest Products, founded in 1955, is a holding company that provides capital, management and administrative resources to subsidiaries that supply wood, wood composite and other products to the retail, construction and industrial markets.