Victor Grizzle

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Armstrong World

Search every verified Victor Grizzle interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Victor Grizzle, CEO and incoming executive chairman of Armstrong Industries, discussed the company's transformation during a July 2026 episode of the Thought Sparks podcast with Columbia Business School professor Rita McGrath. He described how he applied McGrath's research on growth outliers, including separating the flooring and ceilings businesses and identifying a "burning platform" for growth in a financially strong but stagnant market. Grizzle credited the framework with providing a catalyst for change at the company. Grizzle also detailed changes to Armstrong's innovation approach, stating that the company shifted from "hobby projects" and innovation for its own sake toward market-driven, customer-driven development. He mentioned introducing a multigenerational product plan that aligned research with current and future customer needs, particularly by engaging architects as aspirational customers. He expressed a personal belief that the human element will remain central despite developments in AI, as long as companies stay focused on their purpose.