Quick Facts
Biography
Gretchen W. McClain is an American businesswoman. She served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL).
Early life
She graduated from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Career
Gretchen W. McClain served as the Chief Executive Officer of Xylem Inc. from 2011 to September 9, 2013 and served as its President until September 9, 2013
She started her career as a Senior Leader in guiding space shuttle and space station initiatives for the NASA. She joined AlliedSignal in 1999. After its merger, she served as Vice President and General Manager at Honeywell Aerospace, a subsidiary of Honeywell (NYSE: HON). She joined the ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT) in 2005, where she served as President of ITT’s Residential & Commercial Water business and later as President of the ITT Fluid and Motion Control business. She served on the Board of Directors of the Hydraulic Institute.
In 2011, she served as President and CEO of Xylem, Inc. She has supported modernising the water infrastructure, including the sewage system, in the United States.
In September of 2013, in response to a 3.4% decline in stock value, Gretchen McClain resigned as CEO of Xylem Inc and was temporarily replaced by Former Chairman Steven Loranger.