Shaw Industries has named Paul Murray vp sustainability and environmental affairs. He joins Shaw after more than 20 years with Herman Miller, a recognized early corporate leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship. Murray most recently served as that company’s EH&S and sustainable business practices leader.

“Paul’s passion, experience and credibility as both an innovator and a corporate sustainability leader will play a vital role in helping us move forward with our commitment to sustainability through innovation,” said Shaw CEO Vance Bell. “We look forward to Paul’s insight and perspective as we continue working to address the challenges of sustainable business that affect all corporations today – and will affect us all in the future.”

During his tenure at Herman Miller, Murray and others established EQAT, the Environmental Quality Action Team. Through that team and other efforts, Herman Miller achieved high-profile recognition for its environmental initiatives, including a Presidential citation and national recognition as an environmentally progressive company. Murray was named Herman Miller’s director of environmental safety and sustainability in 2006.

Murray holds memberships with the Air and Waste Management Association, the National Association of Environmental Managers, the American Society of Interior Design and the West Michigan Business Forum. He serves on the Board of Directors for both the University of Michigan’s Corporate Environmental Program and Penn State’s School of Business Advisory Board in addition to board memberships for several non-profit environmental organizations. In 2002 he co-founded the Sustainable Research Group (SRG), an environmental consulting service created to help other companies implement green initiatives similar to Herman Miller’s.

A LEED accredited professional, Murray holds an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and a Master’s degree in management from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Murray and his family will relocate to the Northwest Georgia area from Hudsonville, Mich.