Bob Ballard Named President of Steelcase North America.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1999--

In a move to consolidate under single leadership all manufacturing, sales and marketing activities related to Steelcase's core business in the United States and Canada, Bob Ballard, executive vice president of business operations since 1996, today was named president Steelcase North America, announces James P. Hackett, president and CEO, Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS).

This position, a new one within Steelcase, broadens even further the scope of responsibility of Ballard, Steelcase's second-in-command executive leader. He has been with the company for 33 years.

Included in Steelcase North America will be the company's steel and wood businesses in the US and Canada, as well as its Turnstone, Revest and Clestra Hauserman subsidiaries.

"Bob's appointment is intended to ensure continued strong focus on our core business in North America as we aggressively pursue global growth and integration of our processes," says Hackett.

Reporting to Ballard in the North America organization are: Duane Bucklin, vice president, corporate quality; Paul Lehmann, vice president, finance and strategic planning; Mike Lobbestael, senior vice president, business operations; Jim Mitchell, president, Steelcase Canada; and Jim Stelter, senior vice president, sales, marketing & dealer alliances.

Ballard joined Steelcase Inc. in 1967 as a safety manager at the company's Grand Rapids facilities. In 1969, he was promoted to personnel manager and to superintendent of production in 1974. In 1979, he was promoted to plant manager of the Athens, Alabama operations. In 1987, he was named vice president and general manager of the Western Division in Tustin, California before becoming president of Steelcase Canada in 1990. In 1994, he became senior vice president, manufacturing operations at Steelcase Inc. And in 1996, he was named executive vice president, business operations.

ABOUT STEELCASE INC.

Steelcase Inc. is the world's preeminent designer and manufacturer of products used to create high-performance work environments. Founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1912, Steelcase Inc. helps individuals and the organizations that employ them around the world to work more effectively. The company has led the office furniture industry in sales every year since 1974. Its product portfolio includes seating, storage, furniture systems, interior architectural products, technology products and related products and services. Fiscal 1999 worldwide net sales, including unconsolidated joint ventures, were in excess of $3 billion. Steelcase Inc. (www.steelcase.com) and its subsidiaries and joint ventures have dealers in more than 680 locations, more than 50 manufacturing plants and nearly 21,000 employees around the world.