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Press Release: The Deming Center Announces David Niles as Chairman of the Advisory Board

The W. Edwards Deming Center for Quality, Productivity, and Competitiveness Announces David Niles as new Chairman of the Advisory Board

New York, NY –The W. Edwards Deming Center for Quality, Productivity, and Competitiveness at Columbia Business School recently appointed David Niles as the new Chairman of its Advisory Board. Mr. Niles received an MBA, with distinction, from Columbia Business School in 1998.

Currently, Mr. Niles serves as President of SSA & Company and G100 Companies. SSA & Company (SSA) was founded as the Six Sigma Academy in 1994 by Dr. Mikel Harry and others who developed the Six Sigma methodology at Motorola. Today, SSA is a management consulting firm that helps business leaders execute world-class performance through data. G100 Companies, a unique business partnership that combines the world’s best C-level learning communities with a selection of premier professional services firms (including SSA) – all designed to meet the needs of today’s CEO. Mr. Niles is also a Board member of Leading Edge Aviation (a portfolio company of Vance Street Capital), a member of the Gotham Chapter of YPO, and is an investor in private companies and venture capital funds.

“Edward Deming once said: you can’t manage what you don’t measure,”[1] said Niles. “Today, this notion rings true in new ways. At SSA, we are evolving operational excellence to the next generation by helping companies harness the advantages of big data and analytics. Just like Lean Six Sigma, CRM, or other management tools – big data and digital transformation efforts must be led by the CEO and embedded into the DNA of a company’s culture to succeed. It is an incredible honor to assume the role as Chairman of the advisory board of the Deming Center. Leadership in operational excellence has never been more exciting and critical to business performance,” said Niles.

“We are honored to have Dave in this leadership position on our advisory board and deeply appreciate his commitment to further the values of operational excellence in business practice.  We look forward to working with him to deepen the mission and expand the impact of our center, as we continue to train the next generation of executives in operations management and strategy,” said Professor Nelson M. Fraiman, the director of the Deming Center.

As the new chair of the Deming Center’s advisory board, Mr. Niles follows Robert M. Amen, Former Chairman & CEO of International Flavors and Fragrances.  Advisory board members include Paul O’Neill, 72nd Secretary, US Treasury, Beth Ford, EVP, Chief Supply Chain & Operations Officer, Land O’Lakes, Inc., James Peterson, Director, Corporate Initiatives Group, GE, and Lynne Greene, Group President, Clinique, Origins, Ojon, Aveda & Darphin, The Estee Lauder Companies, among other high-caliber leaders.

 

About The W. Edwards Deming Center for Quality, Productivity, and Competitiveness

The W. Edwards Deming Center was created within Columbia Business School in 1993 to honor and promote the legacy of Dr. Deming, who had joined the school’s faculty in 1989. The center promotes operational excellence by bridging academic theory with business practice through applied research support, professional development offerings, and the dissemination of best practices. Programs and initiatives conducted by the center include conferences, workshops, research fellowships, faculty study tours, curriculum development, and panel discussions focusing on key areas of interest in operations management and process improvement.

About SSA & COMPANY & G100 COMPANIES

SSA & COMPANY is a management consulting firm that helps companies execute on strategy for world-class performance – from fast-cycle, targeted improvements to a total rethinking of a company’s operating model. Born out of Lean Six Sigma and refined through ongoing innovation, SSA & Company’s approach improves execution within client organizations and builds sustainable skills and capabilities within client teams. Whether working with Fortune 50 corporations or private equity portfolio companies, SSA & Company delivers quick, game-changing results that add value immediately, and over time.

G100 COMPANIES is a unique business partnership that combines the world’s best C-level learning communities with a handful of premier professional service firms. G100 Companies helps the most distinguished companies and executives drive performance, learning, strategy, and reputation.

 

Download the official press release here.