GRAND RAPIDS — Steelcase Inc., a global leader in the office furniture industry, announced the appointment of Jim Keane as chief operating officer. Keane brings his most recent experience as president of the Steelcase Group in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as earlier company roles as chief financial officer and the head of research and development to his new role.
“The global business environment is changing at a rapid pace,” said James P. Hackett, chief executive officer of Steelcase Inc. “It’s crucial that Steelcase accelerates the implementation of its current strategic plan, while also staying ahead of the trends that are shaping the future state of our business. With Jim in this expanded role, I am confident that Steelcase will continue to serve the world’s leading organizations, to help them use space as leverage for their own success, and to remain at the forefront of what’s next in the world of business.”
As chief operating officer, Keane will be responsible for the design, engineering, development, manufacturing, sales and distribution of the company’s brands in nearly 160 countries. Steelcase brands offer a variety of products and services for corporate, healthcare and education organizations.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jim Hackett for 15 years, and I’m honored to take a role that allows Jim to devote more of his time to envisioning our future direction,” said Keane.
Prior to joining Steelcase, Keane was a consultant with McKinsey and Company for five years and held positions with Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co. and Motorola Inc.
Keane earned a degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois, and a Master’s in Management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
