John Dean is vice president, global e-business, and chief information officer (CIO) for
Steelcase Inc., an international work effectiveness company whose knowledge, products and
services enhance the quality of people's lives in work environments. Its product portfolio
includes furniture systems, seating, lighting, storage, architectural and technology products,
and related products. The company is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Named to this
position in September 2000, John has global responsibility for information systems design,
development and support.
John has held numerous leadership positions in Steelcase’s information
technology area since joining the company in 1984 as a database administrator. Most recently,
John was general manager of Hedberg Data System, a Steelcase subsidiary in East Windsor, Conn.
He was named to this position in October 1997. In March 1996, John was named group manager of
Steelcase’s business technology group, responsible for voice and data networks and desktop,
server and database technologies.
In May 1995, John was named manager of account operations for the Steelcase
Furniture Management Coalition (FMC), responsible for customer service process design and
development. He’s also served as manager, end user computing (May 1993-May 1995), and manager,
database design (January 1990-May 1993).
Before coming to Steelcase, John worked as a database administrator and team
leader for Interstate Motor Freight in Grand Rapids, Mich., and a software engineer and land use
planner at the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission.
John earned a bachelor of science degree in 1973 at Grand Valley State
University in Allendale, Mich., where he studied land use planning. John currently lives in
Grand Rapids with his wife, Jane. They have two grown children, Ryan and Michael.
