GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Steelcase President and CEO Sara Armbruster as well as other company executives, will leave the company following its $2.2 billion acquisition by HNI Corp.

"This is an important moment in our company’s story," said Armbruster in a letter submitted to the SEC. "Times of change can bring mixed emotions, yet they also create opportunities for growth and shared success. What has always defined Steelcase is the strength of our people, the depth of our relationships, and our commitment to helping the world work better."

When the acquisition is completed, which is expected to occur at the end of the year, Armbruster will step aside and HNI chairman, president and CEO Jeff Lorenger will lead the combined organization. 

In addition, Donna Flynn, vice president, Chief People Officer, will also leave Steelcase at close. "During her 14 years with the company, Donna has shaped Steelcase’s culture and leadership practices and helped embed our purpose into how people work and lead. Following her departure, existing leaders within Steelcase and HNI will continue the important work of supporting our people, culture, and impact efforts as the companies come together."

Other Steelcase executives who will be leaving the company include: Bob Krestakos, who will leave Steelcase in early 2026 after supporting the operations transition. His focus in the coming months will be on ensuring continuity across our manufacturing and operations teams and supporting a smooth integration with HNI. After more than three decades with Steelcase in roles across the IT and Operations organizations, Krestakos has had a "tremendous impact on our business and our people, and we will celebrate his career more formally as we get closer to his transition."

Donna Flynn will also leave Steelcase at close. During her 14 years with the company, Donna’s leadership of our Global Talent and Impact organization has shaped our culture in a multitude of ways — from how we lead, to how we develop our teams, to how we show up for one another. Prior to this role, she led WorkSpace Futures for nearly a decade, helping establish our insight-led approaches as a cornerstone of the Steelcase brand. Her passion for people, culture, and design has had a major impact on our company, and we will celebrate her many contributions in the weeks ahead.

Staying with the company
The following leadership structure will be effective at closing:

• Allan Smith will continue leading Americas Go-to-Market and Global Product functions, overseeing Sales in Americas, Global Brand & Communications, Research, Product Development, Engineering, and Design.
• Terry Lenhardt will continue leading Marketing and Customer Verticals, reporting to Allan Smith, with a continued focus on supporting dealers and driving customer engagement across key markets.
• Madelyn Hankins will continue in her role on Allan’s team, leading Americas Sales, Channel, and the GCC team, ensuring consistency in dealer and customer relationships.
• Dave Sylvester will continue leading Finance and add oversight of Steelcase’s EMEA and APAC businesses to strengthen global alignment and explore and advance potential opportunities in these regions. Alessandro Centrone (EMEA) and Peter Lewchanin (APAC) will continue leading their respective regions and will report to Dave, ensuring continuity for Steelcase’s global dealer and customer relationships.
• Steve Miller will continue leading IT, with an expanded focus on advancing digital capabilities and customer-centered experiences that make it easier to do business with Steelcase.
• Megan Blazina will continue leading Legal and Strategy globally, including compliance and ESG initiatives, as the company moves into its next phase of integration.
• Bob Krestakos will continue leading Operations and will remain with Steelcase through early 2026 to support operational continuity and a seamless integration with HNI. Bob will leave the company following this period, after more than 30 years of dedicated leadership at Steelcase. Throughout his career, Bob has been instrumental in strengthening operations, advancing manufacturing excellence, and ensuring consistent service to our dealer partners.

In August, HNI Corporation and Steelcase Inc. entered into a definitive agreement under which HNI will acquire Steelcase in a cash and stock transaction, with a total value of approximately $2.2 billion to Steelcase common shareholders.

The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of calendar year 2025, is subject to approval by HNI and Steelcase shareholders, and other customary closing conditions. Upon closing, HNI shareholders will own approximately 64% of the combined company, and Steelcase shareholders will own approximately 36%. Under the terms of the agreement, Steelcase shareholders will receive $7.20 in cash and 0.2192 shares of HNI common stock for each share of Steelcase they own.