# Ric Phillips

> Ric Phillips is the chief executive officer and a director of Kimball Electronics. A former McKinsey partner and former CEO of Essendant and Elkay, he combines advisory experience with operating responsibility across distribution and manufacturing. His public writing emphasizes organizational culture, listening, adaptability and civic engagement.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer and Director at Kimball Electronics
- **Organizations:** Kimball Electronics, Greenheck Group, McKinsey & Company, Essendant, Elkay Manufacturing Company, Follett Corporation, Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity, Indiana University Kelley School of Business Dean’s Council
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Finance, Indiana University, Master of Management, Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management
- **Known for:** Elected a McKinsey partner in 2005., Led Essendant’s industrial turnaround before becoming CEO, according to its 2017 appointment announcement., Recognized as a Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity Hero in 2020, as listed on his LinkedIn profile.

## Career timeline

- **2005** — Elected partner at McKinsey & Company.
- **2013** — Joined Essendant as President of Online and New Channels.
- **2017** — Became President and CEO of Essendant following an interim appointment.
- **2019** — Named President and CEO of Elkay Manufacturing Company in October; served through 2022.
- **2023** — Became CEO and a director of Kimball Electronics on March 1.
- **2026** — Led Kimball during the Helvoet acquisition and first phase of the Kimball Solutions rebrand.

## Achievements

- Elected a McKinsey partner in 2005.
- Led Essendant’s industrial turnaround before becoming CEO, according to its 2017 appointment announcement.
- Recognized as a Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity Hero in 2020, as listed on his LinkedIn profile.
- Lists the McKinsey Marvin Bower Award for Inspirational and Values-Driven Leadership on his LinkedIn profile.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Kimball reported fiscal 2026 net sales of $1.431 billion and Q4 operating cash flow of $42.4 million; issued fiscal 2027 sales-growth guidance.
- **2026-07** — Kimball announced a phased rebrand to Kimball Solutions, beginning at Jasper and Indianapolis. A corporate legal-name change is targeted for July 1, 2027, subject to shareholder approval.
- **2026-07** — Kimball acquired Helvoet Polymer Technologies for €90 million before customary adjustments and related costs, adding precision-molding operations in the Netherlands and India.

## Links

- Website: https://www.kimballelectronics.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ric-phillips

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ric-phillips
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22