Whirlpool Corporation announced that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility.

«Our employees are the heart and soul of our company, and we know that supporting diverse voices throughout our organization makes us better – says Kim Kavala, Whirlpool Corp. head of Inclusion & Diversity and global learning –. Every year we have received a 100 score from the HRC has been a testament to our meaningful work in this space as well as validation for how our company continues to do what’s right for our employees».

Through the efforts of the 18 employee resource groups (ERGs) who work to raise awareness for an inclusive culture, Whirlpool Corp. has received recognition throughout 2023 for its DEI initiatives. The company was named one of the 2023 Best Companies for Multicultural Women by Seramount. Playing a large role in this recognition was the Whirlpool Women’s Network (WWN) that empowers and engages women at all levels within the company and community to ensure that all voices are heard.

Whirlpool Corporation announced that it has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Trustworthy Companies in 2023 by Newsweek. To create the list, Newsweek partnered with Statista, a provider of market and consumer data, to evaluate companies’ business practices and relationships with key stakeholders.

«At Whirlpool Corporation – commented Ava Harter, global chief legal officer of the company –, one of our enduring values is integrity. This means that across our global business, there is no right way to do a wrong thing. We are honored to receive this recognition. It reflects the dedication of 61,000 global employees who believe in our mission of improving life at home for consumers. We cannot fulfill this vision if we don’t operate with integrity and trust.»

Whirlpool Corp.’s Global Ethics and Compliance Program is focused on enhancing and sustaining the company’s culture of winning with integrity and empowering employees with tools and resources to act with integrity within a risk-based framework. As part of these efforts, Whirlpool Corp. launched its Integrity Manual in 2019, which outlines the company’s values and helps translate these values into everyday actions.

Experienced brand strategist Shannon Blakely is rejoining Whirlpool Corporation as vice president of North America brand marketing. She will be responsible for all aspects of marketing, from strategy to execution, for the company’s brands across the North America region. Blakely will also oversee WoW Studios, Whirlpool Corporation’s in-house creative and advertising agency, as well as the company’s consumer insights team.

As the company explains, in this role the manager will help define the consumer experience, foster the creation of immersive content within the consumer journey, integrate digital platforms and accelerate data-driven marketing. This is Blakely’s second tenure at Whirlpool Corporation, where she held roles of increasing responsibility throughout the brand organization until her departure in 2019.

«We are excited for Shannon to return to Whirlpool Corporation in this important leadership role – commented Alessandro Perucchetti, executive vice president and president, U.S. operations –. Shannon has a deep knowledge of our brands and values and will be integral in leading our North America business to continued growth, innovation and success.»

Whirlpool Corporation has completed its acquisition of InSinkErator, the manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use, from Emerson. «On behalf of everyone at Whirlpool – said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation -, I am excited to welcome the InSinkErator team, as we continue to execute on our vision of improving life at home. This acquisition advances the company’s ongoing portfolio transformation and aligns with our long-term value creation goals».

Whirlpool expects to generate revenue upside by capitalizing on InSinkErator’s leading consumer brand preference, an installed base that is five times larger than the rest of the industry driving a recurring sales profile, and the expansion of the InSinkErator brand into new markets and product offerings. As previously stated, the acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Whirlpool Corp.’s margins.

InSinkErator will operate as a separate business as part of the company’s North America Region. It maintain its headquarters in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, and its manufacturing operations in Racine, Wisconsin. «Our team is excited about the future ahead with Whirlpool Corporation, and we see how perfectly InSinkErator fits within the company’s portfolio of brands – commented Joe Dillon, President of InSinkErator-. We look forward to working hand in hand to bring consumers the best kitchen experience in the world.»

Whirlpool launched a new brand experience organization designed to transform the home appliance end-to-end consumer journey into immersive consumer experiences. Located in the heart of Chicago at the Reid Murdoch building, the World of Whirlpool Studios (or WoW Studios) is a multidisciplinary creative team that will work across Whirlpool Corp.’s North American brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, JennAir and Amana brands.

«This new division of the company will blend over 111 years of appliance knowledge with creative excellence to enhance the consumer experience (CX), while unlocking new value for consumers and improving the lives of millions at home – Whirlpool explains -. WoW Studios will evolve the standard client agency model by hiring traditional agency talent and arming them with deep business understanding; increasing the speed, scale and effectiveness in the total output of marketing campaigns across the full consumer experience».

From awareness to exploration to post-purchase interactions and beyond, WoW Studios will champion work that positively impacts the business with a skilled team of creative revolutionaries integrated across key disciplines that include CX Operations & Strategy, Creative & Experience Design, Integrated & Studio Production, Marketing Sciences and Digital Delivery.

«As consumer expectations evolve, we recognize that traditional marketing approaches are no longer enough. That is why we are focused on delivering an enhanced consumer experience across all of our brands and channels – said Joe Liotine, chief operating officer of Whirlpool Corp. -. Whirlpool has a long history of delivering innovative, consumer-focused campaigns that offer emerging tools and technologies to meet consumers where they are. Through WoW Studios, we are accelerating our ongoing commitment to making the consumer decision journey a top priority.»

Whirlpool named Pamela Klyn senior vice president, communications, public affairs and sustainability effective January 1, 2022. Klyn will join the executive leadership team and report directly to chairman and CEO, Marc Bitzer. «In her new role – the company explains – Klyn will leverage her extensive product knowledge and global experience to advance the company’s sustainability goals. She will guide all communications for the company and take a leadership role in government relations at a time in which home appliance innovation is increasingly impacted by the regulatory landscape».

Klyn succeeds current corporate vice president, communications and public affairs, D. Jeffrey Noel, who has announced his long planned intention to retire in mid-2022 following nearly 18 years at the company.

«Pam has been an outstanding leader at Whirlpool – said Marc Bitzer -. She brings not only a strong technical understanding of the products and the types of purposeful innovation that exceed our customer’s expectations, but also a commitment to bettering the communities around her. I’m confident in her ability to bring that unique combination of product knowledge and community dedication to help improve life for all of our stakeholders, whether in the home, within their neighborhoods or in protecting our planet.»

Klyn was hired into Whirlpool Corporation’s Technical Excellence Program in 1993 after graduating from Michigan Technological University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. She earned a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1995. During her time with the company, Klyn has held advancing roles in engineering, product development, global innovation, and marketing.

Whirlpool Corporation announced an important news about its organization: Joseph T. Liotine (in the picture on the left) has been named President and Chief Operating Officer and will be responsible for all global operations. starting from September 1, 2021. Liotine is currently Executive Vice President and President of Whirlpool’s North America Region. In addition, he leads both the Global KitchenAid Small Domestic Appliances business as well as Global Information Systems. Previous to this assignment, he was President of U.S. Operations and has held a variety of roles with increasing responsibilities such as Vice President of Marketing for the North America Region where he led: Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Product Marketing, and Consumer Insights.

«I’ve had the good fortune of working with Joe for many years said Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool Chairman and CEO – and I’m continually impressed with his strategic thinking related to the everyday execution of our business. He’s an exceptional leader with a clear vision to exponentially grow our brands around the globe. During the past 18 months in particular, Joe has demonstrated his preparedness for this next step with outstanding results in North America during a very challenging time on every dimension.»

Whirlpool Corporation also announced that Winn Everhart will succeed Liotine (in the picture on the right) as the company’s Executive Vice President and President of the North America Region. Everhart joined Whirlpool Corporation in October 2020 as Senior Vice President overseeing U.S. commercial and business operations including Brand and Strategy, Product Marketing, Sales, Consumer Services and Integrated Supply Chain including U.S. and Mexico plants. In his new assignment, effective September 1, Everhart will also join Whirlpool’s Executive Committee.

Whirlpool Corporation has named Winn Everhart as Senior Vice President of Whirlpool Corporation’s U.S. operations, effective Oct. 1, 2020. Winn joins Whirlpool following a nearly two-decade long tenure at the Coca-Cola Company, where he most recently served as General Manager for the Company’s Philippines market.
Over his 19-year career at Coca-Cola, Everhart has spent time in various strategic and operating roles, gaining broad domestic and international experience. He has worked on a variety of initiatives from helping develop Coca-Cola’s long-term strategy, supporting Vision 2020 and its subsequent financial growth model, to managing sales and operations in key U.S. beverage markets.
In its new role, Winn Everhart will oversee the company’s U.S. commercial and business operations including Brand and Strategy, Product Marketing, Sales, Consumer Services and Integrated Supply Chain (including U.S. and Mexico plants) and will report to Joe Liotine, executive vice president and president, Whirlpool Corporation North America.
«This new role was created to provide additional leadership capacity to pursue new market growth opportunities that we have in the U.S. and around the world – said Liotine. – Winn has demonstrated proven leadership during his long tenure at Coca-Cola, and I’m confident he will help us accelerate progress on our region’s strategic imperatives while maintaining our positive momentum on profitability. I look forward to him joining our North American leadership team.»
Everhart added, «I’m extremely honored to be joining a company that has such a long and proud history of being a positive part of its loyal consumers’ daily routine. Whirlpool’s vision of improving life at home really resonates with me, and I have a renewed appreciation of ‘the home’ over the past few months. I am especially inspired to be a part of this transformational work.»

Green Builder Media, an important media company in the North American building industry focused exclusively on green building and responsible growth, published the results of its annual Readers’ Choice brand survey in the March/April 2020 issue of Green Builder Magazine. The survey shows that among ten leading companies included in the Appliances category, Green Builder’s readers ranked Whirlpool Corporation first in sustainability.
This is the tenth annual edition of Green Builder Media Reader’s Choice selections and is not the first time that Whirlpool appears at the top of the appliances category: in the past five years, in fact, the company placed in the top two spots four times.
In a special section titled “Industry Stalwarts,” Green Builder Magazine wrote about Whirlpool Corporation: «From super-efficient induction cooking ranges to a vast line of energy-efficient refrigeration and water-saving laundry units, Whirlpool has earned its place in the hearts of professionals, exceeding the expectations of end-users. New products include striking innovations, including digital tools that make dryers smarter, cut water use even more for dishwashers, and “inject” detergent into clothes washers. Smart tech from a smart company.»
Kelly Safis, Whirlpool Corporation General Manager of Builder Sales commented the award saying: «It is an honor to once again be recognized by Green Builder Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Whirlpool Corporation has a proud history of environmental sustainability, and this award is a testament to our commitment to that legacy—both now and in the future.»
Green Builder Media’s 2020 Readers’ Choice is just one of the recent honors recognizing Whirlpool Corporation’s commitment to sustainable business practices. Last year, the American company was once again included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) North America Index; Corporate Responsibility Magazine named Whirlpool Corporation to its list of Top 100 Corporate Citizens; And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented its SmartWay Excellence Award to Whirlpool Corporation for a fifth consecutive year.

Whirlpool Corporation has started a collaboration with Dow and Reynolds Consumer Products to provide much-needed respirators to combat the spread of COVID-19. The joint project is a protective piece of headgear and respirator system that will be manufactured and sold through WIN Health Labs, LLC, in addition to an initial donation to hospitals.
The personal protective equipment (PPE) created by the joint team is a powered, air-purifying respirator, or PAPR, which takes the place of a traditional medical mask and visor and features a replaceable polyethylene hood. The clear hoods are both flexible and comfortable, and can quickly be replaced between patients.
Dr. John Froggatt III, MD of Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph Michigan, receives the first box of PAPR units donated by Whirlpool Corporation, Dow, and Reynolds Consumer Products from Christian Gianni, President of WIN Health Labs and VP of Technology for Whirlpool Corporation. Dr. Froggatt is an infectious disease specialist in Saint Joseph, MI and has been practicing for 31 years.
«We are using our supply of N95 masks and respirators at a rate 10 times higher than normal – said Loren B. Hamel, MD, president of Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph, Michigan, near Whirlpool Corporation’s Global Headquarters. – These are some of the most critical medical supplies to help ensure the safety of frontline workers who are often in direct contact with patients infected with the virus.»
Whirlpool, Dow and Reynolds Consumer Products were all looking for ways to give a concrete contribution to face the emergency, and through those efforts this collaboration was born. «Volunteers within each of the companies began reaching out to local healthcare providers to inquire how they could be helpful – said Christian Gianni, President of WIN Health Labs and VP of Technology for Whirlpool Corporation. – In order to accelerate the design process, we created a virtual, agile team that was able to go from paper to approved product in just seven weeks. Through this unique relationship and a huge amount of effort by a very talented group of people, we are now manufacturing respirators and are in a position to help our frontline healthcare providers.»
Whirlpool Corporation designed, manufactured and assembled the headset. Dow provided the polyethylene resin for the hoods, and Reynolds Consumer Products, makers of Hefty® brand, designed and produced the disposable hood. Volkswagen of America brokered connections with materials and supply chain partners to source critical components.
Two thousand units are being produced in the first phase for donation to hospitals located in regions where Whirlpool and Dow have operations, as well as other hospitals in need of PPE. To get the needed PPE to as many healthcare providers as possible, the Hefty® team is donating the first 1 million hoods.