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Michigan CIO Claims Executive IT Spot at Major Furniture Manufacturer La-Z-Boy

La-Z-Boy furniture company has hired Michigan CIO David Behen to serve as the organization’s vice president and CIO.

Furniture retailer La-Z-Boy has hired former Michigan CIO David Behen to serve as vice president and CIO for the global organization based in Monroe, Mich.

The announcement comes nearly two weeks after Gov. Rick Snyder first announced Behen would be stepping down from the chief information technology role to pursue opportunities in the private sector.

Behen served as the state CIO for six years, and took also took the title of director of Department of Technology Management and Budget (DTMB) with the departure of former Director John Nixon in 2014.

According to a press release issued by the company, Behen will be responsible for all aspects of the organization’s IT footprint, including strategy, cybersecurity, ERP deployment and network optimization.

“I look forward to working with the multi-faceted technology strategies associated with a company involved in the retail arena as well as one with extensive manufacturing operations," Behen said in the release. "Today, IT systems and business applications are necessary to ensure success externally to provide excellent service to our many independent dealers and end consumers as well as internally as we manage our business for productivity and efficiency."

During his time as the state’s lead technologist, Behen earned Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers award in 2013. Under his leadership, Michigan was one of few states to receive an “A” grade in the Center for Digital Government’s* 2016 Digital States Survey

Current Chief Deputy Director Brom Stibitz will serve as interim director of the DTMB until a permanent replacement is named.

*The Center for Digital Government is part of e.Republic, Government Technology's parent company.

Eyragon Eidam is the web editor for Government Technology magazine, after previously serving as assistant news editor and covering such topics as legislation, social media and public safety. He can be reached at eeidam@erepublic.com.