Herman Miller Names 3 New Executives to Leadership Team

February 21, 2019  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Executive Changes, Industry   

Megan Lyon as chief strategy officer, Leander LeSure as chief human resources officer, and Jacqueline Rice as general counsel will partner with President and CEO Andi Owen and her broader leadership team to identify and drive global growth opportunities for the company and its family of brands. 

"The Herman Miller family of brands is evolving to create opportunities for the next generation, and Megan, Leander, and Jackie will help shape our future by enhancing our ability to deliver on our mission to create inspiring designs to help people do great things," said Owen. "These hires further strengthen an already-impressive executive leadership team who have helped Herman Miller become the innovative designer and manufacturer of timeless furnishings it is today."

As chief strategy officer, Lyon is responsible for developing Herman Miller's enterprise strategy, including identifying and driving growth opportunities across the portfolio of brands and businesses. She also will serve as a key advisor to the CEO and leadership team by helping to promote the success of individual business strategies, as well as their alignment to the corporate strategy. 

"Herman Miller has a unique set of capabilities and assets with the ability to transform the furniture industry," said Lyon. "I'm looking forward to partnering with Andi and the leadership team to foster global growth and innovation to help our businesses remain relevant and inspiring long into the future."

Prior to joining Herman Miller, Lyon was a partner and managing director in the San Francisco office of Boston Consulting Group (BCG). She led BCG's consumer and retail practice on the West Coast and was a core member of its corporate development and marketing, sales, and pricing practices. 

Lyon earned a Master of Business Administration with distinction from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis. 

As chief human resources officer, LeSure will lead all corporate human resources functions, while serving as a key advisor to the leadership team, providing strategic counsel to align the company's people strategies with its business objectives and corporate strategy. 

"The people of Herman Miller have a world-class reputation for applying the skill and passion to a portfolio of furnishings that enable customers to achieve more than they ever thought possible," said LeSure. "So, it's especially exciting for me to join a global team of 8,000 with people strategies that continue to nurture creativity, inclusivity, and deliver on business objectives that make our communities and the world a better place."   

LeSure comes to Herman Miller from Getty Images in New York City where he was the chief human resources officer since 2016. He has also held senior human resources leadership roles at Western Union and American Express. Early in his career, LeSure served in the U.S. Navy. He holds a Masters from the University of Minnesota-Carlson School of Management.

As general counsel, Rice will provide legal, risk, and compliance counsel to Herman Miller. Having led functions for Target Corporation and General Motors, Ryan brings with her extensive legal expertise and a unique breadth and diversity of international experiences. 

"Rich in history with more than 100 years of heritage, Herman Miller is an iconic brand I deeply admire," said Rice. "Equal to its legacy of design is Herman Miller's longstanding commitment to sustainable and ethical business practices throughout its global supply chain. It's a privilege for me to join this remarkable organization."

Jackie joined Target Corporation in Minneapolis in 2014 as the chief risk and compliance officer, where she built the company's first global risk and compliance team. Over the past year, Jackie has provided legal, risk and compliance services to a variety of large corporate customers and nonprofit organizations. 

Prior to Target, she spent almost two decades serving in a variety of legal roles at General Motors, most recently as Senior Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.