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Our Network

by Meridith Levinson

Robert Keefe Joins Mueller Water Products as ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã

Opinion
Apr 4, 20072 mins

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Robert Keefe
hired Robert Keefe as its new SVP and ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã. Keefe reports to Gregory Hyland, president and CEO of the Atlanta-based manufacturer of flow control products used for water distribution and treatment. Mueller Water Products’ new ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã has what appears, to me at least, to be an impressive background: He most recently worked for apparel manufacturer Russell Corp. as its corporate VP and ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã. Prior to Russell, he served as ConAgra Refrigerated Foods’ VP and ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã.  Previously, he worked for Kraft Foods and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. He has an MBA, which he earned from Pace University.

Do you think Keefe’s background is impressive? I suppose it’s hard to evaluate without knowing how long he held his previous positions and what he accomplished in them. I guess I’m just impressed by the companies for which he’s worked: They’re big. Forgive me if I sound like an idiot. I’m just trying to give my perspective on this Robert Keefe fellow.

Offering a point of view on these announcements about ÍæÅ¼½ã½ãs that I post on Movers & Shakers is one of my biggest challenges. Writing compelling copy about people I’ve never met isn’t easy. I’m torn between upholding journalistic standards and going out on a limb and saying something provocative—sometimes at the expense of my subject—to increase my readership and inspire people to add their comments. Because I’m a professional journalist first and blogger second, I have be extremely careful when writing about people I don’t know and about their careers. I usually err on the side of caution and throw up a post that reads like regurgitated press releases sans vapid quotes. Sometimes I do throw caution to the wind and write what’s on my mind when I read about a particular ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã. I find the best way for me to add my perspective is to comment on a particular situation, such as how merger and acquisition activity can affect a ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã’s job, rather than make a snide remark about a particular ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã. A ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã who gets squeezed out of a merger may provide the news hook for such commentary, and thus, I get to write about someone without really writing about them, if you catch my drift.

If you have ideas on how I can make Movers & Shakers more juicy, informative and reliable, let me know.

Thanks for your feedback!

–Meridith