An unusually fast exit
MillerKnoll turns to Jeff Stutz for now
At the top of MillerKnoll, a leadership transition is taking place that sounds orderly in official terms, but is unusually fast in its sequence. Andi Owen will step down as President and CEO of the US contract furniture group on June 30, 2026, “by mutual agreement” with the Board. At the same time, she has already resigned from the Board and has started a leave of absence from the company with immediate effect. The official reason: Owen wants to devote more time to important family matters.
Leadership has therefore already moved to Jeff Stutz. The current Chief Operating Officer is assuming the duties of CEO during Owen’s leave of absence and will formally become interim CEO on June 30. Stutz has been COO since September 2025 and previously served for more than ten years as CFO. Most recently, he was responsible for the international workplace business, global manufacturing, and the European brands HAY, Muuto, Colebrook Bosson Saunders and NaughtOne.
For the time being, MillerKnoll is therefore choosing internal continuity rather than an external signal. Stutz knows the group well. He joined Herman Miller in 2001 and held roles in investor relations, treasury and finance before moving into operations. That points to a transition designed to avoid friction. At the same time, the search for a permanent successor shows that his appointment is not yet the final succession decision. The Board, led by Chairman John R. Hoke III, will consider internal and external candidates; an executive search firm has been engaged.
The timing remains notable. MillerKnoll announced Owen’s departure around three weeks before its earnings release: results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025/2026 are due on June 24, while the formal leadership change follows six days later. The company has confirmed its fourth-quarter outlook. But the background goes further back. Owen joined Herman Miller from Gap in 2018, led the company for eight years and oversaw the USD 1.8 billion acquisition of Knoll in 2021. Since then, MillerKnoll shares have lost around 70 percent of their value, according to “Business of Home”; in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the company also narrowly missed earnings expectations. Against that background, the change itself is less surprising than the speed with which it is being carried out. Owen had already drawn headlines beyond the balance sheet in 2023, when a leaked town-hall video showed her telling employees concerned about bonuses to leave “pity city” — an episode for which she later apologised.
In fiscal 2025, MillerKnoll generated net sales of USD 3.7 billion. Its portfolio includes Herman Miller and Knoll as well as Geiger, DatesWeiser, DWR, Maharam, HAY, Muuto, NaughtOne and Holly Hunt. With this brand portfolio, the group is present in the workplace, hospitality and residential contract segments. The portfolio is particularly relevant to categories such as seating, tables, storage, lounge and partitions.
At the top of MillerKnoll, a leadership transition is taking place that sounds orderly in official terms, but is unusually fast in its sequence. Andi Owen will step down as President and CEO of the US contract furniture group on June 30, 2026, “by mutual agreement” with the Board. At the same time, she has already resigned from the Board and has started a leave of absence from the company with immediate effect. The official reason: Owen wants to devote more time to important family matters.
Leadership has therefore already moved to Jeff Stutz. The current Chief Operating Officer is assuming the duties of CEO during Owen’s leave of absence and will formally become interim CEO on June 30. Stutz has been COO since September 2025 and previously served for more than ten years as CFO. Most recently, he was responsible for the international workplace business, global manufacturing, and the European brands HAY, Muuto, Colebrook Bosson Saunders and NaughtOne.
For the time being, MillerKnoll is therefore choosing internal continuity rather than an external signal. Stutz knows the group well. He joined Herman Miller in 2001 and held roles in investor relations, treasury and finance before moving into operations. That points to a transition designed to avoid friction. At the same time, the search for a permanent successor shows that his appointment is not yet the final succession decision. The Board, led by Chairman John R. Hoke III, will consider internal and external candidates; an executive search firm has been engaged.
The timing remains notable. MillerKnoll announced Owen’s departure around three weeks before its earnings release: results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025/2026 are due on June 24, while the formal leadership change follows six days later. The company has confirmed its fourth-quarter outlook. But the background goes further back. Owen joined Herman Miller from Gap in 2018, led the company for eight years and oversaw the USD 1.8 billion acquisition of Knoll in 2021. Since then, MillerKnoll shares have lost around 70 percent of their value, according to “Business of Home”; in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the company also narrowly missed earnings expectations. Against that background, the change itself is less surprising than the speed with which it is being carried out. Owen had already drawn headlines beyond the balance sheet in 2023, when a leaked town-hall video showed her telling employees concerned about bonuses to leave “pity city” — an episode for which she later apologised.
In fiscal 2025, MillerKnoll generated net sales of USD 3.7 billion. Its portfolio includes Herman Miller and Knoll as well as Geiger, DatesWeiser, DWR, Maharam, HAY, Muuto, NaughtOne and Holly Hunt. With this brand portfolio, the group is present in the workplace, hospitality and residential contract segments. The portfolio is particularly relevant to categories such as seating, tables, storage, lounge and partitions.