HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The former CEO of Herman Miller and civic leader Max De Pree has died.
De Pree joined Herman Miller in 1947 after serving in World War II. He became the CEO of Herman Miller the company founded by his Father in 1980. According to this obituary, DePree is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, 23 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Former Congressman and On-Ambassador for the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra worked at Herman Miller and says he will always consider his time there as a very special time because of leaders like De Pree.
“He recognized that everyone is created in the image of God. Every employee has unique skills and that it is the responsibility of leadership to create an environment where those skills and those gifts can be fully developed. That leaders can only lead if they have integrity. That they have to treat their employees with equity and fairness. When the company was successful, everyone was successful. He was a unique individual and he helped create a special and unique company.”
De Pree also authored the books “Leadership is an Art” and “Leadership Jazz,” which sold worldwide.
A visitation will be held Thursday, August 10, from 5- to 8 p.m. and Friday 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Third Reformed Church of Holland, located at 111 W. 13th Street. Memorial contributions can be made to the Third Reformed Church’s affordable housing fund or the Fuller Theological Seminary’s student scholarship fund.
De Pree held seven honorary degrees and served on the boards of Hope College and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. After 40 years on the Fuller board, the school established the Max De Pree Center for Leadership in 1997 in his honor. In 1992, he was elected to Fortune magazine’s National Business Hall of Fame. He also served on the Peter Drucker Foundation Advisory Board.
