Olmsted Township - July 28, 2025—Vitamix®, a leader in blending equipment, designed for both home and commercial use, today announced the appointment of two new independent Board Members: Anthony (Tony) Ciepiel and Ryan McLean. These strategic additions bring a wealth of corporate leadership experience and expertise in implementing growth and change strategies. Their appointments bring the Vitamix board to eight members, six independent and two internal shareholders.
Independent director Tony Ciepiel joins the board with an impressive background in corporate leadership. He is a retired company chief executive officer with over 40 years of business expertise. Ciepiel started his career in public accounting at Arthur Young & Co. (now EY) and held both CFO and CEO positions at Realty One, where he spearheaded the expansion of Realty One's offerings, leading the company into a full-service real estate organization. Additionally, Ciepiel served as the COO and President of the Flood Company, leading the negotiations for the sale to AkzoNobel in 2006. After he joined Vitamix as VP Commercial, over ten years, he grew the Vitamix name into an iconic brand in his various roles as VP Sales and COO.
Independent director Ryan McLean is a tenured executive with a successful track record across a range of large and mid-size consumer product companies. McLean's diverse career began in product development and then brand management at Procter & Gamble. He subsequently joined Bissell Homecare, the global leader in floor care appliances. There, he led areas such as global marketing, product management/engineering, sourcing, and new ventures—serving as their Senior VP. McLean is currently CEO of Comfort Research, which is best known for its Big Joe furniture and pool products sold through well-known retailers and online. He also chairs the board of the West Michigan United Way organization.
"We are pleased to welcome new independent directors Tony and Ryan to our board of directors," said Steve Laserson, CEO of Vitamix. “They join us at a pivotal time, and as leaders within several global consumer product categories, we are looking forward to the valuable insights Tony and Ryan will contribute to what the next 100 years of Vitamix will hold.”
"With their perspectives, expertise, and extensive backgrounds in leading successful organizations, Tony and Ryan are excellent complements to the experience of our current board members," Vitamix Chair, David J. Barnard, said. "Additionally, we welcome Tony back to Vitamix, as he served as our COO in prior years, and we look forward to the contributions from both Tony and Ryan as we continue to develop new products that increase the enjoyment of whole foods."
Ciepiel and McLean were elected by the existing board on July 16, 2025. The board consists of independent directors: Mike Merriman, Jeff Deuch, Alisa Norris, and Wanda Huberman, along with internal owner board members David J. Barnard and Loree Connors. Vitamix worked closely with Howard & O'Brien, a full-service executive and board search firm based in Cleveland, Ohio, during the selection process. Their appointments will take effect on August 1, 2025.
About Vitamix
Vitamix®, a family-owned company since 1921, is a global leader in high-performance blending technology. Trusted by top chefs and leading restaurant chains in more than 100 countries, Vitamix machines deliver exceptional results at home and in demanding commercial kitchens, offering category-leading power, precision, and durability. The company has won multiple industry awards and continues to be recognized for product innovation, user experience, and company culture—all from its headquarters near Cleveland, Ohio. Learn more at www.vitamix.com.
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Media Contact:
Ashley Gowens
Senior Manager Communications
(440) 665-5406
agowens@vitamix.com