Steven Richman, Milwaukee Tool President since 2007, will be replacing Joseph Galli Jr as the CEO of TTI, Milwaukee’s parent company.
Galli, the outgoing Executive Director and CEO of TTI, has retired after leading the company for 18 years.
Richman has led Milwaukee Tool through years of massive growth, innovation, and expansion. It is under his direction that the company was built into what it is today.
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Starting today, May 21, 2024, Richman will be overseeing all of TTI’s brands, including Ryobi’s operations in North America, Ridgid cordless power tools at Home Depot, Hoover, and Hart Tools at Walmart.
I very regularly receive news about corporate promotions, role changes, and similar, and it’s rarely noteworthy. This is different – it’s a major development, and one that I expect to be hugely impactful.
From my very brief interactions with Richman over the years, I was consistently given the impression that he truly cares about the Milwaukee brand and its tools. On top of his years at the company, and impassioned speeches and announcements at media events, it was always the short impromptu comments that gave clues to this.
I have spoken with all kinds of product managers, engineers, company presidents, corporate executives, and brand owners over the years. Many decision-makers seem detached from their brands.
Richman, through his words, actions, and direction, has shown tremendous commitment to the company, its employees, and perhaps most importantly, end users. He seems like the type that truly cares.
This brings an important question to mind. With Richman having been promoted to the highest leadership role at TTI, who will be replacing him as the head of Milwaukee Tool? Who will lead the tool brand with same care and dedication?
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In TTI’s recent announcement, it says that Richman was named Senior Group President of Milwaukee Tool in January 2024.
Our information about Milwaukee’s current leadership structure is incomplete, but I see there were at least three other promotions at that time.
In January, Shane Moll was named Group President of Power Tools & Equipment, and Tim Albrecht was named Group President, presumably of Hand Tools and Storage. Before that, Moll was President of Power Tools, and Albrecht was President of Hand Tools, Storage, PPE, and Channel Marketing. James Wamsley was named Group President of Global Operations.
Richman’s role of Senior Group President at Milwaukee Tool has only existed for a couple of months, and it’s possible that no one will be promoted to fill it.
It seems that perhaps Milwaukee will have several category-specific Group Presidents who will remain under the helm of Steven Richman at his new role as CEO of all of TTI.
Bobby Shaw, a former Milwaukee Tool Vice President with nearly 11 years with the company, took charge of Ryobi North America in late 2019, first as President and then Group President since early 2023.
At this time, at least until we hear official word, my best guess is that TTI is restructuring slightly where Milwaukee Tool Group Presidents, most notably Tim Albrecht and Shane Moll, and other TTI brand or segment Group Presidents, such as Ryobi’s Bobby Shaw, will all answer directly to Steven Richman as CEO of TTI.
In other words, it seems that, in a manner of speaking, Richman might remain “Senior Group Manager” in the context of Milwaukee Tool, and that in his new role as CEO, all other TTI brands will also be brought into the fold.
If true, this strongly affirms that Milwaukee Tool remains in good hands. The rest of TTI is also in good hands, and it will be interesting to see if and how Richman molds other parts of the group’s tool business.
More information is forthcoming – we’ll provided updates as we learn more.
Jronman
Would be nice to see something similar to AmpShare/CAS in TTI. Maybe Richmond will make it happen but I think it is unlikely.
Jason
The chances aren’t 0, but they’re extremely near 0. The only way Milwaukee would do that is if they created their own and started licensing to non competing industries (say surgical tools, etc)
Saulac
I have been happy and sad at the comeback of the Milwaukee brand. Happy for the great tool and the once great name…a little (only a little) sad when it seemingly (?) take an “international” owner to revise the brand, ironically, seemingly with American talents. SG has been through many brand before Milwaukee. I honestly want to know what enable him to do what he has been doing at Milwaukee. Could he do that with an “American” own company?
Stuart
SG?
One of my mentors told me that there are 3 paths to success:
i) Be a genius
ii) Be lucky
iii) Work hard
Many of Milwaukee’s leaders and senior managers joined the brand at a pivot time when the cordless power tool industry was about to switch over to Li-ion battery tech.
First came the switch to Li-ion. Then there were advancements in battery capacity, brushless motors, and power output. Milwaukee launched hand tools. Storage. USA-made hand tools. Cordless vacuums. Vacuum accessories. Workwear. PPE. Power tool accessories.
It wasn’t luck. Maybe there was a little bit of genius. But mostly, it was hard work.
Early efforts created passion, and then passion + hard work led to unstoppable growth and success.
The name was the least important part. How many people buy Milwaukee tools today because of their legacy electric tools vs how many people buy them because of the past 15-20 years of innovation?
I think the team did the brand justice.
Matt
This is very true. They have built a whole new name for themselves. If they truly start bringing volume USA hand tools to local store shelves they could be even bigger – in exactly the opposite way craftsman is trending
Stuart
I have spoken with several companies about USA hand tool production recently.
Most companies: we’d like to do that, buuuuuuut….
Milwaukee has plans.
Richman pledged to create new jobs. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-pledges-usa-jobs-cordless-tool-manufacturing-expansion-plan-2017/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
He created more jobs.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-tool-rd-office-chicago-2022/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-usa-manufacturing-expansion-2022/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
The company announced new USA-made hand tools, and they delivered.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-made-in-usa-hand-tools-announcement/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-usa-hand-tool-factory-tour-details-2023/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
None of that was a one-person operation – it often seems that there are multiple driving forces behind many of Milwaukee’s major decisions and directions.
Milwaukee tends to dip their toes into new waters, splash around a bit, and then they dive in strategically before repeating the process.
I think they’re keeping an eye on demand for the USA-made hand tools, and also keeping ears open for customer interests and end user needs and wants.
There’s a balance between risk and reward, and it can sometimes be like walking a tightrope. Consider what happened to Malco and their Eagle Grip locking pliers.
Saulac
Sorry. I meant Steven Richman.
fred
The TTI partnership with HD to produce HD’s two house-brands of small power tools under license to Ryobi and Ridgid may also have added to the Milwaukee success by giving them an entree into expanded shelf space.
But you can’t take away from them how the sort of laser focused to trades like plumbing to offer tools that the trades wanted. They also stuck with their M12 lineup adding more and more offerings until it became the dominant player in that class of tool.
Mike
“This is different – it’s a major development, and one that I expect to be hugely impactful.”
Can we get some speculation, prognostication?
Michael F
Milwaukee has undoubtedly had some great leadership to get where they are today. I agree that it’s not simply brilliance or luck but hard work and dedication that has really paid off for them. They offer a sweet spot of power, price, and no-frills functionality that seems to really appeal to tradesmen and prosumers alike. Their laser focus on solutions to customer needs, instead of just “making tools”, is unmatched in the industry.
Richard Miller
Stuart, as someone who has a 45 year history of appreciating Milwaukee tools, has always had a number of them, and who is currently strategically investing heavily into their cordless system, thank you for developing the relationships that allow you to give this kind of news some “color”.
I have spent roughly $2,500 this year in bare tools alone. Brush cutter, nail gun, miter saw, large fan, etc. etc. This is in addition to a well rounded selection I have had for a long time.
My dad bought a used Milwaukee Sawzall at a pawnshop when he started his own plumbing business. This would have been 1969ish. He had it factory rebuilt twice. (Dunno if they even do that anymore.) After Papa passed away four years ago, I ended up with that Sawzall. In his honor I will use it (alongside my cordless) in the house I am building this summer.
So yeah, I got a history with Milwaukee…
Stuart
Thank you, I appreciate that!
Honestly, they make it easy. Let’s say there’s a new tool coming out. At a media event or phone call, they’ll hammer out the major selling points. But if I ask “why” or “how,” there’s a good chance I’m in for a story.
Other brands can be as welcoming, but it can take more.
Most of the people I talk to at Milwaukee, either regularly or just once a year, talk about their products and the brand in a similar way as I talk about ToolGuyd.
They’ll discuss semiconductor chips, aerodynamics, thermal buildup, grain size, trigger switch speed ramping…
I also like that I can be frank, even when critical or cynical.
With many other brands, it’s different.
When Milwaukee’s media event comes around, it’s like a trip to Willie Wonka’s. But instead of Oompa Loompas, every manager and category President is like another Willie Wonka.
It’s hard to describe, but I hope that makes sense.
Otis
I know Steven Richman. He is an incredible leader and has truly taken Milwaukee to the next level. Most importantly, he surrounds himself with incredible talent.
ColeTrain
Any chance he brings Rigid back to what they used to be? Or could this Doom them all together? I bought into them a little over 15 years ago and at the time the only other options I considered were DeWalt and Makita. I can’t remember but I don’t think Milwaukee certainly then was where they are now. The LSA was the reason I chose Ridgid but then years passed when I wasn’t using my tools daily. Started in the field a year ago and thought about switching again but money was tight and direct factory tools had a factory blemish sale so here I am again. Ridgid just feels stagnant, discontinuing bulletproof stuff, updating tools that are perfectly fine while still selling others that need a redesign. The octane jigsaw is great but they have since released two new ones. The octane compact router is gutless, difficult to adjust but it’s still on shelves at home Depot. I don’t use the circular saw daily but need one and I threw down the extra cash for the subcompact version after reading reviews of all the other ones. Some of those nail guns could be useful but it seems like a risk. Will this do anything for their consistency?