MillerKnoll continues to redefine modern design through innovation, sustainability, and adaptability. In an exclusive conversation, Chris Baldwin, Group President, and Stacy Stewart, Regional Director MEA share insights into the brand’s latest milestones, commitment to sustainability, and the future of workplace design in the MEA region and beyond
Chris Balwin – Group President, MillerKnoll
What are some of the major milestones MillerKnoll has achieved in design over the past year, both globally and in the MEA region?
Over the past year, MillerKnoll has continued to shape the future of design through innovation, adaptability, and a commitment to creating inspiring spaces. Globally, we have launched new workplace solutions that enhance flexibility, integrate smart technology, and improve accessibility—ensuring our designs evolve with the needs of today’s workforce.
In the MEA region, we have focused on collaborating with key industry stakeholders to deliver workspace solutions that align with the region’s unique cultural and business dynamics. This includes introducing designs that balance modern functionality with regional preferences, such as height-adjustable workstations and adaptable seating solutions. Strengthening relationships with clients and designers across the region has been a priority, enabling us to better understand and respond to the evolving demands of the market.
How do you maintain the unique identities of MillerKnoll brands while driving growth?
MillerKnoll is the overarching organization, and while our brands share a DNA of great design, each maintains its own unique identity. We are committed to preserving the individualism and character of our brands, ensuring they serve a wide variety of customers with the best and most distinctive design solutions. At the same time, we drive growth by leveraging the scale of the MillerKnoll collective, expanding our presence in markets, and innovating across our portfolio to meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers globally.
Can you elaborate on MillerKnoll’s commitment to innovative workspace solutions globally?
We start with research to understand evolving client needs. Wellbeing, Connection, and Change define our approach. As offices evolve, we focus on creating adaptable, human-centered work environments, ensuring sustainability, efficiency, and seamless service.
Our Design with Impact framework addresses the human need of employees to improve their wellbeing, fosters a sense of community and connection, and helps organizations navigate, prepare and design for change through flexible work environments. Collaborative spaces in office designs, promote employee interaction and idea-sharing. Hot-desking or shared seating has increased as the office space needs to flex with the increasing number of people attending the office daily.
The demand for versatile seating and storage solutions that can easily adapt to different tasks and work settings has also increased. Across the MillerKnoll collective, these insights elevated chairs like Aeron, Cosm and Zeph & OE1 storage trolley from Herman Miller, Ollo by Knoll, Ruby from NaughtOne or the AAC from Hay.
A testament to our commitment to innovative workspace solutions, the Herman Miller Bay Work Pod is designed with privacy, focus, and accessibility in mind. It offers a quiet sanctuary within busy office environments, embodying our mission to create workplaces that foster well-being, connection, and adaptability to changing work styles.
How does MillerKnoll prioritize sustainability and material innovation?
At MillerKnoll, we believe business should be a Force for Good—not just in words, but in action. Sustainability is at the core of our ethos, driving how we reduce our carbon footprint, design out waste, and source better materials. We take a holistic approach, working not only within our company but also alongside our suppliers to ensure a sustainability-first mindset across our entire value chain.
Our Sustainability highlights from the report include:
- Energy Reduction: Approximately 75% of electricity currently comes from renewable sources.
- Waste Reduction: Reduced total waste within MillerKnoll’s global facilities by approximately 50% since FY2022.
- Smart Packaging: Reduced use of single-use plastic packaging – including polystyrene and bubble wrap – by 52% since 2020.
- Sustainable Materials: Used innovative materials like bamboo-based upholstery, eelgrass and biomass-balanced foam.
What were the key challenges in integrating Herman Miller and Knoll?
Bringing together two iconic brands required thoughtful integration, particularly in aligning operations, technology, and teams while preserving the unique strengths of each brand. However, our shared commitment to design excellence, sustainability, and craftsmanship made the transition smoother. Rather than viewing integration as a challenge, we saw it as an opportunity to redefine modern design for the 21st century. By leveraging our combined expertise, global reach, and design heritage, we have created a stronger, more innovative collective that anticipates and shapes the future of the industry. Now united as MillerKnoll, we continue to lead industry transformation by offering a broader portfolio of innovative solutions and delivering exceptional design, functionality, and sustainability. Our collective scale enables us to serve customers with greater efficiency, foster deeper collaboration, and create more meaningful growth opportunities across our global markets.
What design trends will shape the future of the workplace?
Future workplaces will be more adaptable, employee-centered, and focused on both collaboration and well-being. Companies will likely continue embracing design elements that foster innovation, support a range of work styles, and help retain top talent.
Some of the most important design trends to look out for:
- Collaboration: Encouraging teamwork and innovation within the workspace.
- Wellness: Creating environments that support mental and physical well-being.
- Flexibility: Designing adaptable spaces that can evolve with changing needs.
- Smart Offices: Workplaces will integrate IoT-based smart solutions to enhance efficiency, comfort, and sustainability.
- Technology Integration: Offices will adopt advanced tools like VR collaboration and high-end video conferencing for seamless remote and in-office work.
- Personalization and Autonomy: Future workspaces will offer customizable lighting, temperature, and workstations for enhanced comfort and productivity.
- Biophilic Design: Offices will integrate natural elements like plants, green walls, and open windows to boost well-being and productivity.
Clients want spaces that inspire innovation, so offices today need to be better than they were five years ago. And, of course, sustainability will remain a constant underlying theme.
What leadership lessons have shaped your career, and how do you mentor others?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that leadership is all about people—having the right team in the right roles makes all the difference. Creating an environment where people thrive starts with empathy and understanding their strengths. Active listening builds trust and opens the door to innovation. Adaptability is key in an ever-evolving business landscape. Great leaders pivot, respond, and drive change.
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Stacy Stewart – Regional Director MEA, MillerKnoll
How do you approach expanding MillerKnoll’s brand experience into MEA markets?
Expanding MillerKnoll’s brand experience into the MEA region is about more than just reaching new markets—it is about fostering meaningful connections with customers, designers, and businesses. Our approach is guided by three key principles: deep market understanding, strategic partnerships, and brand authenticity.
We immerse ourselves in each market’s culture, collaborating with local teams to ensure our brands remain authentic and relevant. By partnering with architects, designers, and dealers, we create tailored experiences for the region through our physical spaces, workplace solutions, and digital platforms. Our goal is to shape inspiring spaces across the MEA region while staying true to our purpose: designing for the good of humankind.
What role does technology play in shaping the future of the contract furniture business?
Technology is playing an increasingly vital role in shaping the future of the contract furniture business, especially as businesses increasingly seek solutions that cater to evolving work environments and employee needs. With advancements that streamline manufacturing processes, enhance customer experience, and create smarter, more flexible furniture solutions, technology plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the contract furniture business.
Smart furniture integration solutions such as desks with built-in wireless charging, adjustable height controls, are becoming more common. These features not only enhance user comfort but also align with modern needs for efficiency and wellness in the workplace.
How did your experience as Regional Director MEA influence your leadership style?
My years of experience leading teams across the Middle East and Africa have deepened my appreciation for the diverse cultures and working styles that exist, both among our customers and within our team. This diversity has fostered a strong emphasis on delivering results, providing mentorship, and creating an environment that values flexibility and choice in how individuals approach their work.
What strategies do you use to align MEA sales teams across multiple regions?
Aligning MEA sales teams across multiple regions ensures that our teams are working toward the same goals and driving growth effectively. Some key strategies are Clear, Unified Goals and Vision establishing common objectives that align with the company’s broader vision. Whether it’s increasing revenue, expanding into new markets, or enhancing customer satisfaction, these goals should be communicated clearly to every region. Each team should understand how their efforts contribute to the MEA and global success of the company.
Different regions will have unique cultural nuances, customer expectations, and market conditions. Tailoring our approach to each region while still maintaining alignment with the global strategy is critical.
To measure success uniformly, it’s important to have a shared set of performance metrics (KPIs) across all regions. We also provide our teams with the tools, resources, and training they need to succeed.
Fostering a collaborative culture and leveraging technology enhances sales visibility across regions. Continuous regional feedback ensures effective strategy implementation. Aligning incentives with sales goals and using real-time reporting helps identify trends, improvements, and opportunities.
How do you integrate social impact into your leadership and business initiatives?
Integrating social impact into leadership and business initiatives is essential for creating a positive, long-lasting effect on both the community and the environment to drive meaningful change. We create social impact by offering sustainable products, reducing the company’s carbon footprint, and ensuring fair labor practices are woven into every aspect of the business, from product design to operations and customer interactions.
Employees from across MillerKnoll brands participate in an annual Global Day of Purpose each November – a day for employees around the world to give back to their communities. Each year, MillerKnoll will designate this day as a paid day off so all 11,000 employees can participate and make a positive difference. We believe in using our business as a force for good. When we all come together and make an impact on our communities, we’re continuing our legacy of designing for the good of humankind and creating a better world.
Can you share MillerKnoll’s plans for the MEA region in the coming months? Any exciting new projects and innovations?
MillerKnoll is committed to evolving our strategic plans for the MEA region, with a particular focus on expanding our capabilities in Saudi Arabia, a key growth market. By leveraging our global manufacturing hubs in Europe, North America, and Asia, alongside new sourcing from our plant in India, we are enhancing the efficiency and resilience of our supply chain to better serve the region.
Our collective of brands, including Herman Miller, Knoll, CBS, HAY, Muuto, and NaughtOne, is well-positioned to address the evolving needs of workspaces and healing environments across the Middle East and Africa. With an expanding MillerKnoll team and distribution network, we are dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that seamlessly combine functionality and aesthetic appeal, ensuring our products meet the highest standards of quality and design.
Sustainability remains central to our strategy, with initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact through material innovations and circular design solutions aligned with long-term sustainability goals. We are committed to fostering strong regional partnerships to ensure a seamless and locally relevant brand experience. With much more to come, we are excited about MillerKnoll’s future in the MEA region and on a global scale.
What is MillerKnoll’s vision for driving innovation and growth across its collective brands in the coming year?
In 2025, we are focusing on fostering creativity, collaboration, and sustainability. The company’s strategy is rooted in leveraging its portfolio of leading design brands to stay at the forefront of office and home furniture. We will continue to enhance product offerings through innovative design, smart technology integration, and sustainable manufacturing practices, while also responding to shifting consumer needs for flexible, adaptable spaces.
