Professional Profile

Steven Keith is an executive leader and change agent with 25 years of experience building and transforming strategic and operational functions for multinational companies across a wide range of industries including Automotive, Consumer Products, Industrial Equipment, Financial Services, and Print and Communications. He has achieved step-function results through enterprise alignment, change management, resourceful execution, and a relentless focus on value creation.

HIGHLIGHTS

Merger, Acquisition, and Restructuring: Guided Standard Register (now Taylor Communications) through Chapter 11 restructuring and two acquisitions. Led teams responsible for resolution of critical vendor issues, claims reconciliation and payment, and due diligence. Led operational integration workstreams including a $60+ million insourcing and capacity utilization improvement initiative. 

Organizational Redesign and Build-out: Built sourcing organizations from the ground up at First Niagara and Electrolux and led procurement transformations at Columbus McKinnon and Standard Register.

Strategic Planning: Developed 5-year strategic plan at First Niagara including people, process, and technology roadmaps. Managed department budgets and savings/value creation forecasts in all management roles.

Operational Execution: Implemented a launch management reporting process at Electrolux for operational KPIs including tooling delivery, SKU reduction, part standardization, quality improvement, and cost reduction.

P&L Cost Management: Exceeded cost reduction objectives in strategic sourcing roles by double and triple digit percentages via effective competitive analysis, project management, and alignment with stakeholders.

Technology Implementation: Built business case and initiated launch of the Ariba Strategic Sourcing Suite at First Niagara that enables full lifecycle management of 4,000+ third-party relationships, spend visibility, increased sourcing velocity, more robust due diligence and contract management, and regulatory compliance.

 
EXPERIENCE

 TAYLOR COMMUNICATION  - Vice President – Supply Chain & Director - Contract Manufacturing

Taylor Communications is an $800 million division of Taylor Corporation, a privately held company specializing in Print, Communications, Marketing, and Workflow Solutions for the Healthcare, Financial, Retail, and Industrial markets. Led staffs of up to 60 and direct/indirect spend of $500 million across 40+ facilities in North America.

FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP - First Vice President, Director – Strategic Sourcing, Accounts Payable, & Fixed Assets

First Niagara was a bank with $30 billion in assets and $1.3 billion in revenue providing retail and commercial financial services in the northeastern U.S. Served as top supply chain executive responsible for Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Accounts Payable, Fixed Assets, and an indirect spend of $400 million across 411 branches and facilities. Led a staff of 16 throughout the First Niagara footprint.

COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION - Director - Global Sourcing & Supply Chain

Columbus McKinnon is a $600 million leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of industrial equipment and services. Provided supply chain, cost reduction, and material flow leadership on spend of $300 million across 47 global facilities. Led 9 Commodity Managers, Supplier Development Engineers, and Data Analysts in the U.S. and China and 50 matrixed reports globally.

AB ELECTROLUX - Director - Advanced Procurement

Electrolux is a global manufacturer of appliances and consumer goods with $14 billion in revenue and based in Stockholm, Sweden. Established the Advanced Procurement function in the $6 billion North American division and incorporated structured sourcing, cost containment, and launch readiness disciplines on over 70 new product introductions. Led a staff of 9 direct reports and 75 matrixed reports located in 8 plants and technical centers.

AUTOALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL - A Ford/Mazda Joint Venture - Purchasing Manager

AutoAlliance was a 50/50 joint venture between Ford and Mazda Motor Corporation with $6 billion in revenue generated from two primary manufacturing plants. Managed spend of $1.3 billion and over 50 Chassis, Powertrain, Interior, and Electrical commodities. Ensured timely completion of new program sourcing, cost reduction, and supplier quality and delivery initiatives.  Led a staff of 6 Category Managers and Buyers.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY – Environmental & Safety Engineering, Program Management, Supplier Quality, Commodity Management

Ford is the second-largestU.S. automaker and fifth largest in the world with $144 billion in revenue and 90 plants and facilities globally. Demonstrated early career competence and leadership in progressive roles requiring technical expertise, extensive program management, interaction with government regulators, third party vendor management, and support of major divestitures.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS

MBA & MS-Industrial & Systems Engineering - University of Michigan

BS Mechanical Engineering - Michigan State University

Six Sigma Green Belt Certification - Ford Motor Company