WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- President
- Executive Vice President and President, NAR, Executive Committee
Alessandro Perucchetti was named Executive Vice President and President of U.S. Operations and appointed to Whirlpool Corporation's Executive Committee in March 2023.
Perucchetti joined Whirlpool in 2002 as part of the company's trade marketing team for Whirlpool Italy. Since then, he has gained sales, marketing, category management, merchandising and operations experience across various leadership roles in the North American and EMEA regions. His most recent role was serving as vice president overseeing market operations, product marketing and brands, and consumer services in Europe.
Perucchetti holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Italy and an executive MBA from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- Executive Vice President
- Vice President, Global Human Resources
- Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Executive Committee
- Vice President, Human Resources North America
Carey Martin joined Whirlpool in August 2013 as Vice President, Human Resources North America. In this role, she was accountable for the human resources strategy and execution for North America; an $11B business with 30,000 employees. Her focus was on driving extraordinary performance of the business through ensuring organizational effectiveness, developing great people, and driving a winning culture.
In July 2017, Martin was appointed to Vice President, Global Human Resources where she was accountable for the Human Resources Strategy and Planning, Talent Management, and Total Rewards communities of expertise and HR Service Centers globally. She was also responsible for delivering the multi-year HR transformation initiative, HR Excellence, designing and deploying new global processes, technology, and operating model across the company.
In 2019, Martin was appointed to Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Whirlpool Corporation.
Prior to joining Whirlpool, Martin spent 13 years at Eaton Corporation in roles of increasing responsibility. Her last role was Vice President Human Resources Hydraulics Group, where she was the HR leader for 14,000 employees across 60 global sites. In her tenure at Eaton she had a breadth of global experiences spanning business HR, manufacturing operations HR, talent and strategy, and executive compensation and benefits.
Martin holds two degrees both from Michigan State University; a Masters of Social Science in Human Resources and a Bachelors of Art in Business from the Eli Broad College of Business. She sits on two Boards including Lakeland Regional Health System and SunSource Holdings where she is also the Compensation Committee Chair.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- Finance and Human Resources Committees
Diane M. Dietz was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in February 2013. She is a member of the finance committee and the human resources committee of the board of directors.
Dietz is the former president and chief executive officer of Rodan & Fields, LLC, a leading premium skincare company. In that role, Dietz was responsible for all aspects of the business, including P&L, strategy, global expansion, public relations, marketing, research & development, information technology, supply chain, and social commerce.
Dietz served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Safeway, Inc., a leading food and drug retailer, from July 2008 to January 2015. In that position, she managed the P&L of the business units and was responsible for all functions relating to advertising, marketing, digital engagement/strategy, product development, product manufacturing, merchandising and supply operations.
Previously, Dietz was the vice president and general manager of Procter & Gamble's Oral Care business where she oversaw all aspects of the business including sales, sourcing, marketing, manufacturing, quality control, supply chain, research & development, market research and human resources functions. Prior to that position, she ran a broad range of brand management and marketing functions across the P&G organization, and held positions of increasing responsibility starting in 1989 until her departure in 2008.
Dietz holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and economics from Northern Illinois University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board
- Chief Executive Officer
- CEO, Chairman, Board of Directors, Executive Committee
- Europe in 1999 As Vice President
Marc Bitzer was named chief executive officer effective October 2017 and was elected Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2019.
Bitzer joined Whirlpool Europe in 1999 as vice president, Bauknecht brand group. He became senior vice president, marketing sales and services, Whirlpool Europe, in 2000 and was named president of Whirlpool Europe in January 2006. Between 2009-2013, he went on to serve as president of Whirlpool North America and President of U.S. operations and later was named vice chairman which included overall leadership of North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Before joining Whirlpool Europe, Bitzer worked for eight years at the Boston Consulting Group in Munich and Toronto, and was named vice president in 1999.
Bitzer earned both his MBA and doctorate from the St. Gallen Graduate School of Business, Economics and Law in Switzerland.
Dr. Marc Bitzer also serves on the Supervisory Board of BMW AG, appointed in May, 2021.
Job Titles:
- Finance and Governance / Nominating Committees
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- Finance and Human Resources Committees
Gerri T. Elliott was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in February 2014. She is a member of the finance committee and the human resources committee of the board of directors.
Elliott is the former executive vice president and chief customer and partner officer of Cisco Systems, Inc., a position she held from 2018 until her retirement on May 1, 2022. In that role, Elliott was responsible for worldwide sales and marketing, field operations, and partnerships around the globe.
Prior to joining Cisco, Elliott served as executive vice president, strategic advisor and chief customer officer of Juniper Networks, a producer of high-performance networking equipment, where she drove the strategic and operational objectives for the company's global marketing, sales, systems engineering, advanced technologies, channel partners, field operations and customer service and support organizations.
Elliott joined Juniper in 2009 from Microsoft Corporation, where she held a series of senior executive positions, including corporate vice president of the company's Worldwide Public Sector organization. Prior to joining Microsoft, Elliott spent 22 years at IBM Corporation, where she held executive and management positions in strategy development, services and consulting, product management and sales leadership.
Elliott holds a bachelor's degree in international politics from New York University. She serves on the advisory board for the Center for Executive Women at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Elliott is a 2013 YWCA Silicon Valley Tribute to Women (TWIN) award winner, honoring executive women who exemplify excellence in executive level positions. Elliott also founded Broadrooms.com, a site devoted to executive women who serve or want to serve on corporate boards.
Ms. Elliott is also a director at Marqeta, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and President, EMEA, Executive Committee
Gilles Morel was named President of Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Executive Vice President of Whirlpool Corporation on April 2019.
Prior to joining Whirlpool, Gilles gained over 25 years experience in the consumer goods industry, mostly at Mars Inc. leading sales, operations, marketing, manufacturing, research and development and procurement. He covered several regional leadership roles, including President for the European & Eurasian region for Mars Chocolate. Most recently, Gilles was CEO Northern and Central Europe at Savencia Fromage & Dairy, overseeing 14 markets including Germany, Central Europe, Benelux and Nordics.
Gilles holds a Master Degree in International Food Industry Management from ESSEC - IGIA in France and one in Food and Science Technology from UTC - Université de Technologie de Compiègne.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Human Resources Committee
- Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- Director at Aramark
- Human Resources Committee Chair and Finance Committee
Greg Creed was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in February 2017. He is chair of the human resources committee and a member of the finance committee of the board of directors.
Creed is the former chief executive officer of Yum! Brands, since his retirement in December 2019.
Prior to being named to lead the parent company, Yum! Brands, in January 2015, Creed was the chief executive officer of Taco Bell, a position he held beginning in early 2011, after serving as president and chief concept officer for Taco Bell. He has held various roles within the company, including chief marketing officer at Taco Bell, and chief operating officer for Yum!. Prior to joining Yum! in 1994, Creed worked with Unilever in Australia, London and New York. He holds a business degree from the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
Mr. Creed is also a director at Aramark and Delta Airlines, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Board of Directors
- Senior Operating Partner
Harish Manwani was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in August 2011. He is a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee and the human resources committee of the board of directors.
Manwani is senior operating partner for Blackstone Group, a position he has held since February 2015. Manwani is the former chief operating officer of Unilever, a position he was appointed to in September 2011 and held until his retirement in December 2014. Manwani had been the president of Asia, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe at Unilever, a position he held starting in April 2005. He joined Hindustan Lever (HLL) in 1976, becoming a member of the HLL board in 1995 as director responsible for the Personal Products business, with regional responsibility for the Central Asia and Middle East business group.
In 2000, he moved to the UK as Senior Vice President, Global Hair Care and Oral Care, and in 2001 was appointed president, Home and Personal Care ("HPC"), Latin America business group. He also served as Chair of Unilever's Latin America Advisory Council. In 2004, he was appointed President and CEO of the HPC North America business group, and in April 2005, he joined the Unilever Executive as President, Asia Africa. He is the Chair of the Executive Board of the Indian School of Business, and is a member of the Economic Development Board in Singapore. He serves on the boards Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Tata Sons Limited.
Manwani is an honors graduate from Mumbai University and has a master's degree in management studies. He also attended the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, Executive Committee
Holger Gottstein was named Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development January 1, 2020.
Holger joined Whirlpool Corporation from Boston Consulting Group, where he was Managing Director & Senior Partner and has held various leadership roles across Europe, Asia, and North America in the Consumer and Retail Practice. He brings deep expertise in Digital and direct-to-consumer strategies, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and performance improvement. Prior to his time at BCG, Holger held several line positions with a major European bank.
Holger holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a Master's degree in international business and cultural studies from the University of Passau.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Audit and Human Resources Committees
- Board of Directors
- Director of United Natural Foods, Inc
James M. Loree was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in December 2017. He is a member of the audit committee and human resources committee of the board of directors.
Loree is the former chief executive officer of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., a position he held from 2016 to June, 2022. He also served on the board of directors of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. during that time. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. from 2016 until February 2021. Loree had served as president and chief operating officer of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. from January 2013 until August 2016. Previously he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer, a position he held beginning in 2009, first with The Stanley Works prior to its merger with Black & Decker, which was completed in March 2010.
Prior to joining The Stanley Works as vice president and chief financial officer in 1999, Loree was employed with the General Electric Company where he had various operating and financial management positions of increasing responsibility starting in 1980 until his departure in 1999.
Loree holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Union College, where he serves as a trustee.
Loree is also a director of United Natural Foods, Inc., Hartford Hospital and is a director of the Jim and Rebecca Loree Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Controller
- Executive Vice President
- Vice President
- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Executive Committee
Jim Peters, executive vice president, was named chief financial officer in 2016 and assumed responsibility for the Asia Region in 2022. In 2024, he was also appointed as administrative officer and gained additional accountabilities for legal as well as corporate relations and sustainability.
Jim Peters was appointed vice president, corporate controller, and chief accounting officer in early 2015 previously having served Vice President, CFO of Whirlpool Corporation's North American Region since 2010. As CFO for an organization of over 300 people, Peters was responsible for financial reporting and internal controls as well as delivering the overall North American business results. He also oversaw all regional operational/strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities. Peters joined Whirlpool in 2004, holding director positions in various departments until he was appointed as vice president and CFO of Whirlpool EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region in 2008. Prior to joining the company, he was a Manager of Internal Audit for Limited Brands and a Consulting Manager at Ernst & Young. Jim received his Bachelor's in Accounting and Business Administration at the University of Kansas and earned a Masters in Business Administration in Finance at Indiana University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Revenue Officer for Fiserv Inc
Jennifer A. LaClair, was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in April 2020. She is a member of the audit committee and the corporate governance and nominating committee of the board of directors.
LaClair is the Chief Revenue Officer for Fiserv Inc., a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions. She is responsible for revenue growth, sales execution, and client satisfaction through the integration and alignment of revenue-related functions across the organization.
Prior to joining Fiserve, LaClair served as chief financial officer of Ally Financial Inc., a leading financial services provider. She was responsible for oversight of Ally's finance, accounting, capital markets, treasury, investor relations, supply chain and modeling and analytics functions. Prior to joining Ally, LaClair spent ten years at PNC Financial Services, where she held various finance and leadership roles, most recently as the head of the company's business bank. Before that, she served as Chief Financial Officer for all of PNC's business lines.
Earlier in her career, LaClair was a consultant with McKinsey & Company, specializing in strategy, operations and business transformation. She began her career in international development, working on economic development programs in Europe, the Middle East and West Africa.
In addition to serving on the Whirlpool Corporation Board of Directors, she serves on the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank Board of Directors, including as Chair of the National Information Technology Committee. She is a summa cum laude graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo and holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Finance Committee
- Director
- Board of Directors
- Chief Executive Officer of Essex Equity Management
Liu was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in June 2010. He is chair of the finance committee and a member of the audit committee of the board of directors.
Liu has been the chief executive officer of Essex Equity Management, a financial services company, and managing partner of Richmond Hill Investments, an investment management firm, since March of 2008. Prior to that time, he was employed for 12 years by Greenhill & Co., Inc., a global investment banking firm, in positions of increasing responsibility including both chief financial officer and the co-head of U.S. Mergers and Acquisitions. Earlier in his career, Liu worked at Wolfensohn & Co. and was an analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.
Liu holds a master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree from Harvard University. He serves as a director at Greenhill & Co., Inc. He also served as a Rotary Foundation Scholar, based at the University of Hong Kong.
Job Titles:
- President
- Executive Vice President and President, LAR
- Executive Vice President and President, Whirlpool Latin America
Juan Carlos Puente has been named president, Whirlpool Latin America, and executive vice president, Whirlpool Corporation, effective April 2023. Most recently, he served the company as president of Whirlpool LAR North (Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and the Andean Region), a position he held since January 2018.
Puente joined the Whirlpool family in 1996 and over the past two decades he gained industry and leadership experience in international business, sales, brand and product marketing, new business development and general management positions. By 2008, Puente's global leadership roles included general manager of the laundry business (NAR), general manager for Home Depot (NAR), president Whirlpool Mexico and vice president of market operations for the EMEA region.
He holds a bachelor's degree in International Business from ITESM in Monterrey, earned a Global Executive MBA from EGADE Business School, in conjunction with UNC in Chapel Hill, Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Getulio Vargas in Brazil and the University in China in Hong Kong and recently earned an executive leadership program AMP (Advanced Management Program) at Harvard Business School.
Job Titles:
- Head of Investor Relations
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Leadership Team
Ludo was most recently Vice President, Global Platforms in Whirlpool Corporation's Global Product Organization. Prior to that role, he gained increasing industry expertise and leadership capabilities through a variety of roles in EMEA (Marketing Director, Laundry & Dishcare and Director, Marketing Operations) and in North America (Senior Director, Whirlpool & Value Brands, VP & GM Refrigeration, VP Product Marketing).
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Executive Vice President, KitchenAid Small Appliances, Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Audit Committee
- Director
- Board of Directors
- Director of Kimberly - Clark Corporation
Michael D. White was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in June 2004. He is the chair of the audit committee and a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee of the board of directors.
White is the former chairman, president and chief executive officer of DIRECTV, a leading provider of digital television entertainment services, a position he held from January 2010 until his retirement in August 2015. He was also a director of the company from November 2009 until August 2015. White was vice chairman and CEO of PepsiCo International from February 2003 until December 2009, which encompasses all of PepsiCo's beverage, snack and food operations outside the U.S. and Canada.
Prior to taking charge of PepsiCo International in February 2003, White had been president and CEO of PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Among his other earlier positions with PepsiCo, which he joined in 1990 as vice president of planning, were senior vice president and chief financial officer for PepsiCo., Inc.; executive vice president and chief financial officer for Pepsi-Cola Company worldwide; and executive vice president and chief financial officer of Frito-Lay International. Before joining PepsiCo, White was a senior vice president at Avon Products, Inc., and a management consultant at Bain & Company and Arthur Andersen & Co.
White is also a director of Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Bank of America. White holds a master's degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor's degree from Boston College.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Board Member for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor
- Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations & Sustainability, Executive Committee
Klyn was most recently a Vice President in Whirlpool Corporation's Global Product Organization. During her time with the company, Klyn has held advancing roles in engineering, product development, global innovation, and marketing. From 2013 to 2015, she lived in Italy and served as the Vice President of Products & Brands for Whirlpool EMEA.
Klyn was hired into the company's Technical Excellence Program in 1993 after graduating from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. She earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1995 and has an Executive MBA from Bowling Green State University.
Klyn is currently a Board member for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor and a Trustee for the Whirlpool Foundation. She serves on the Michigan Technological University External Advisory Board for the Dean of Engineering and on the Board of Directors for Patrick Industries.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Audit and Governance / Nominating Committees
- Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation
Patricia K. Poppe was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in December 2019. She is a member of the audit committee and corporate governance and nominating committee of the board of directors.
Poppe is chief executive officer of Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation ("PG&E") and a member of PG&E's board of directors since January 2021. Prior to joining PG&E, Poppe was the president and chief executive officer of CMS Energy Corporation and its principal subsidiary Consumers Energy Company, Michigan's largest utility and the nation's fourth-largest combination utility from 2016 to December 2020. Poppe served as senior vice president of distribution operations, engineering, and transmission for CMS and Consumers from 2015 to 2016, after holding positions of increasing responsibility since joining the company in 2011.
Poppe held a variety of automotive management positions and served as power plant director at Detroit, Michigan-based DTE Energy before joining Consumers Energy in 2011.
Poppe earned a master's degree in management from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Rich Kramer was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in February 2024. He is a member of corporate governance and nominating committee and a member of the human resources committee of the board of directors.
Kramer was Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, a global manufacturer, marketer and distributor of tires, from 2010 until his retirement in January 2024. Mr. Kramer joined Goodyear in March 2000 and held various positions at Goodyear, including Chief Operating Officer from June 2009 to April 2010; President, North American Tire from March 2007 to April 2010; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from June 2004 to August 2007; Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Restructuring from September 2003 to June 2004; Vice President, Finance, North American Tire from July 2002 to September 2003; and Vice President, Corporate Finance from March 2000 to July 2002. Prior to joining Goodyear, Mr. Kramer was with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for 13 years, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, including Partner, Consumer Products.
Mr. Kramer is also a director at CNH Industrials N.V.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, Global Product Organization
- Executive Vice President, Global Product Organization & Strategic Sourcing, Executive Committee
- in 2016 As Executive Vice President of the Global Product
Roberto Holthausen Campos joined Whirlpool Corporation in 2016 as Executive Vice President of the Global Product Organization - Product Platforms, where he led the team responsible for developing and executing home appliance product development plans. In 2017, Roberto was named leader of the overall Global Product Organization. In this role, Roberto is responsible for all product development activity driving cutting-edge consumer-focused design, innovation, quality, and safety. In 2023, Campos' scope of work broadened to include the company's Global Strategic Sourcing organization.
Prior to joining the Global Product Organization, Roberto served as President/CEO of Embraco at Whirlpool Corp. since 2012. From 1987 to 2012, Roberto served in various roles at Embraco including vice president of the Business and Marketing, Electronic Controls, and Research and Development functions.
Roberto holds a Masters of Business and Science in Business Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Brazil and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and Specialization on Thermal Sciences from Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Audit and Finance Committees
- Board of Directors
Rudy Wilson was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in August 2023. He is a member of the audit committee and the finance committee of the board of directors.
Wilson was named president, global consumer brands of SC Johnson in 2021, after serving as chief marketing officer for the consumer brands division and as a regional senior vice president. Previously, Wilson held brand, marketing and general management roles at AT&T Corporation and PepsiCo, Inc.
Wilson graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Arizona State University and a masters in business administration from the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- Presiding Director and Governance / Nominating / Committee Chair and Human Resources Committee
Samuel R. Allen was appointed a director of Whirlpool Corporation in June 2010. He is presiding director and chair of the corporate governance and nominating committee and a member of the human resources committee of the board of directors.
Allen is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Deere & Company. He held the position of Chairman at Deere from February 2010 until his retirement from the board of directors in May 2020. He served in the role of Chief Executive Officer from 2009 until his retirement in November 2019. Allen had been appointed president and chief operating officer of the company and a member of the Deere & Company board of directors in June 2009. Allen joined John Deere in 1975 and held positions of increasing responsibility in the Consumer Products Division, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division, John Deere Power Systems and the Worldwide Agricultural Division, including managing operations in Latin America, China and East Asia, and Australia.
Allen holds a bachelor's degree in industrial management from Purdue University. He serves as chairman of the Council on Competitiveness.
Allen is also a director of Dow Inc.