Leadership & Board of Directors

executive chairman, Worthington steel

John B. Blystone

Director, 1997

John B. Blystone has served continuously as a director of Worthington since 1997 and as the Lead Independent Director from January 2007 until September 2023 when he was named Executive Chairman. Blystone previously served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of SPX Corporation, a global provider of technical products and systems, industrial products and services, flow technology, cooling technologies and services and service solutions, from December 1995 to December 2004, when he retired. 

From 1991 to 1995, he served in various managerial and operating roles with General Electric Company. He served as Chairman of the Board of Freedom Group, Inc., which manufactures and markets firearms, ammunition and related products, from August 2010 to March 2012. Blystone serves as a director for Blystone Consulting, LLC and as General Partner of Blystone Capital Partners. Blystone graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and has extensive business experience in managing and operating both domestic and international operations, including as a chief executive officer of a large public company. 

He has expertise in acquisitions, financial and business analysis, and in generally managing issues that face a large public company.