La-Z-Boy Taps Vanderjagt as Chief HR Officer

December 7, 2018  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry   

In the role, Vanderjagt will be responsible for HR strategic planning, leadership development, employee engagement, inclusion and diversity, organizational development and culture, change management, compensation and benefits, and leadership and oversight for talent management.

Vanderjagt joined La-Z-Boy in 2015 as director of talent management, was made director of corporate HR and talent in 2017, and has been serving in the lead HR position since August.

“We are thrilled to appoint and elevate Katie to chief human resources officer of La-Z-Boy.  She is a seasoned HR professional and, in addition to bringing a wealth of experience to the position, she has demonstrated leadership excellence throughout her tenure with the company, including over the last four months while serving in the senior-most HR capacity,” said Kurt L. Darrow, chairman, president and CEO. 

“I am confident she will not only continue to elevate the Human Resources function at La-Z-Boy, but will continue to drive change across our employees and culture to deliver results as we execute multiple growth strategies within the dynamic environment in which we operate," Darrow added.

Prior to joining La-Z-Boy, Vanderjagt was with Borgwarner as director of human resources and global talent.  Before that, she spent seven years at Owens-Illinois in various HR positions of increasing responsibility before becoming director of global talent management and HR strategy.  She began her career at Target Corporation as a human resources manager.

“I am energized by the progressive HR strategies we are implementing at La-Z-Boy as well as the opportunity to lead a team of talented HR professionals,” said Vanderjagt. “With a solid growth strategy in place and Joybird bringing an exciting new facet to our business, I look forward to all that we will achieve as we move the company forward.”

Vanderjagt earned her B.A., with Honors, in Business Management from Eastern Michigan University, and an Executive MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.