Whirlpool Corporation’s executive suite is getting smaller. The company this week made an unexpected announcement late Thursday about the retirement of Pam Klyn, Executive Vice President for Corporate Relations and Sustainability. A company announcement indicated her duties will be absorbed by other leaders.
The company statement says Klyn is staying involved with Whirlpool Corporation, and has been named as the President of the Whirlpool Foundation – the philanthropic arm of the company supporting such causes as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Michigan, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and First Tee of Benton Harbor.
As far as backfilling Klyn’s role, that doesn’t appear to be on the immediate to-do list. An internal message noted that Klyn’s retirement is effective December 31, 2024 and her current responsibilities will transition to other company leaders. Among those accountabilities are corporate communications, sustainability, and government relations.
Klyn was named to her most recent role on January 1, 2022. Prior to that, Klyn was a Vice President in Whirlpool Corporation’s Global Product Organization. According to her online bio, during her time with the company, Klyn has held advancing roles in engineering, product development, global innovation, and marketing. From 2013 to 2015, she lived in Italy and served as the Vice President of Products & Brands for Whirlpool EMEA.
Klyn was hired into the company’s Technical Excellence Program in 1993 after graduating from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
The company statement said Klyn will continue to represent Whirlpool Corporation in community-based efforts such as local community organization boards including the Executive Committee of the Cornerstone Alliance board and the Operating Committee for Harbor Shores Redevelopment and co-leading the Whirlpool Community Charity Golf Event, which has raised more than $34 million for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan, First Tee of Benton Harbor, and local public school foundations, positively impacting 10,000 local youth each year. Klyn will also continue to play a leadership role in Whirlpool Corporation’s strategic relationships with Habitat for Humanity and The Washing Machine Project.
“I greatly appreciate Pam’s dedication and service to Whirlpool Corporation over the past three decades, and her contributions are to be commended,” said Marc Bitzer, Chairman and CEO, Whirlpool Corporation. “Pam’s continued leadership with the Whirlpool Foundation will be invaluable as we build on the meaningful impact of Whirlpool Corporation in the various communities where we operate, and she will undoubtedly continue to make a difference.”
