Newell Brands Inc. announced changes to its Board of Directors as part of the Board?s continued commitment to refreshment. James ?Jim? Keane, retired President & Chief Executive Officer, Steelcase Inc., has been elected to the company?s Board of Directors, effective February 15, 2024.
Mr. Keane is the second new director to join Newell?s Board this year. In addition, the company announced that Robert Steele, Courtney Mather and Jay Johnson have informed the Board of their preference not to seek re-election to the company?s Board of Directors at its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in order to focus on other commitments. Accordingly, when their current terms end at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the size of the company?s Board will decrease from eleven members to eight.
The Board of Directors has designated independent director Bridget Ryan Berman as the next Chair of the Board, effective May 8, 2024, and Ms. Ryan Berman will succeed Mr. Steele in this capacity. Ms. Ryan Berman has served on Newell Brands? Board since April 2018 and has been the Chair of the Nominating/Governance Committee since March 2022.
She is a seasoned brand and e-commerce executive with over 35 years of experience in retail. As a senior level executive she has helped oversee the strategies and operations of some of the leading brands in the world, having served as Chief Executive Officer of Victoria?s Secret Direct, LLC, Chief Executive Officer of the Giorgio Armani Corporation (a U.S. subsidiary of Giorgio Armani S.P.S.), Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Retail Stores for Apple Computer Inc. and in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility over a 14-year period at Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, including Group President, Global Retail. James Keane is a seasoned executive with significant leadership experience in operations, strategy, sales, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and product development.
During his distinguished 25-year career at Steelcase, which spanned from 1997 through early 2022, Mr. Keane held a variety of leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chief Executive Officer. Before joining Steelcase, Mr. Keane was Chief Financial Officer at Cloud Corp. and prior to that a consultant with McKinsey & Company.
He serves on the Board of Rockwell Automation as a Lead Independent Director and is a director or trustee of several civic organizations. Mr. Keane holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois and a Master in Management degree from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.