Current announces that Steve Harris has been appointed as the new CEO of the company, effective May 30, 2023. An experienced business leader and strong operational CEO, Harris succeeds the interim CEO Bill Tolley who will remain with the company as Chairman of the Board.
“Steve is a strong force in the commercial space. He is an experienced CEO known for hands-on operational changes, which is what we need,” said Tolley. “We know lighting. His leadership will accelerate Current and position the company to deliver best in class customer service.”
Industrial leadership roles
For the last ten years, Harris was President and CEO—and then Executive Chairman—at Shape Technologies Group in the Greater Seattle area. He led the company into a wide array of emerging and expanding markets, connecting customers to future-forward manufacturing processes. Today Shape operates with record revenue and earning levels. Prior to that, he spent 20 years in several world-class industrial leadership roles.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join Current,” said Harris. “They have an unmatched legacy of product innovation. But more importantly, their ongoing commitment to reshaping the lighting and controls industry provides a unique opportunity to give customers more of what they want. This is a company poised for great things, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
Various leadership roles
Barry Webb joins Current as CFO. He most recently served as CFO of Shape Technologies Group
Harris received a master’s degree in business from Oakland University and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Lawrence Technological University. He and his wife have a home in Florida and will be relocating to Greenville.
Meanwhile, Barry Webb joins Current as CFO. He most recently served as CFO of Shape Technologies Group. He has been a senior advisor to AIP, assuming interim CFO roles, was CFO of the Carlstar Group (another AIP portfolio company), along with having various leadership roles at Carlisle Companies, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Deloitte.
Providing unique opportunity
“I am extremely excited to join the team at Current,” said Webb. “Having had the opportunity to work on the carve-out of Current Lighting from GE in 2019, it was evident to me at the time that this is a very solid business which was only strengthened by the acquisition of Hubbell’s business last year. I am very much looking forward to partnering with the team.”
Barry is a graduate of Virginia Tech where he received both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in accounting. He lives with his wife and three children in Nashville.
