Office Depot appoints new VP, investor relations

Office Depot has appointed Michael A. Steele as VP of investor relations. Steele, who most recently served as VP of investor relations for OfficeMax, where he had been employed since July 2007, will report to Stephen E. Hare, EVP and CFO.



Steele will develop and execute Office Depot’s investor relations strategy, serving as the primary interface for management with the financial community. He plans to relocate to the Office Depot corporate headquarters in Boca Raton.



Rich Leland, having led both treasury and investor relations for Office Depot since April 2013, will continue as VP finance and treasurer, assuming additional key responsibilities in an expanded role.



Prior to his tenure at OfficeMax, he worked at the ServiceMaster Company, a residential and commercial service network, in various corporate finance roles including financial planning, treasury, and mergers and acquisitions. Early in his career, he held financial roles in the telecommunications industry and banking.



“As we work to integrate Office Depot and OfficeMax, clear and effective communication with our investors and the financial community is essential,” said Hare. “We are excited about the depth of experience and expertise that Mike brings to this role, particularly the relationships that he has formed while at OfficeMax.”



Steele is a CFA charterholder and graduated with an MBA from Loyola University Chicago and with a BS from Northern Illinois University. He has been an active member of the Senior Roundtable of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), and is a former board member of NIRI’s Chicago chapter.