Armstrong World Industries Appoints Jessica M. Cicali as Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE: AWI), a leading Americas-based designer and manufacturer of innovative interior and exterior architectural solutions, has announced the appointment of Jessica M. Cicali as Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary. Her new role will officially begin on April 1, marking an important addition to the company’s executive leadership team at a time of continued strategic growth and operational focus.
Armstrong World Industries is widely recognized for its portfolio of ceiling systems, specialty walls, and exterior metal applications that serve commercial, institutional, and residential markets. With a strong emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and performance-driven design, the company continues to expand its impact across the built environment. The appointment of Cicali reflects Armstrong’s commitment to strengthening its leadership capabilities across legal, governance, sustainability, and public policy functions.
In her new position, Cicali will oversee all legal affairs for the organization, while also taking responsibility for leading the company’s sustainability initiatives and government relations strategy. By integrating these critical functions under one executive leader, Armstrong aims to ensure alignment between regulatory compliance, environmental responsibility, stakeholder engagement, and long-term business strategy.
Expanding Leadership Across Legal, Sustainability, and Government Affairs
As Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Cicali will guide Armstrong’s legal strategy across corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and commercial transactions. In addition to traditional legal oversight, she will play a central role in shaping the company’s sustainability roadmap and strengthening its engagement with governmental bodies and policymakers.
The integration of sustainability and government relations into the legal function underscores the increasingly interconnected nature of environmental, regulatory, and compliance frameworks within the construction and manufacturing sectors. As building standards evolve and environmental performance expectations rise, companies like Armstrong must navigate complex legal landscapes while maintaining transparency and accountability.
Cicali’s leadership will help ensure that Armstrong remains proactive in addressing regulatory developments, sustainability commitments, and stakeholder expectations. Her oversight will support the company’s broader mission to deliver innovative architectural solutions while advancing environmental stewardship and responsible corporate governance.
Two Decades of Cross-Industry Legal and Business Expertise
Cicali brings more than twenty years of diverse legal, compliance, regulatory, and business partnership experience to Armstrong. Her professional background spans global manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology organizations, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of operational complexity and regulatory challenges in dynamic industries.
Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary at S&B USA, the American division of Shikun & Binui Ltd., an international publicly traded infrastructure company headquartered in Israel. In this role, Cicali was responsible for overseeing legal operations, compliance frameworks, and corporate governance across large-scale infrastructure projects in the United States.
Her leadership at S&B USA required managing complex contractual negotiations, regulatory requirements, and cross-border considerations. Working within a publicly traded global enterprise further strengthened her expertise in corporate governance, risk mitigation, and regulatory reporting. These experiences position her well to support Armstrong’s growth ambitions and operational excellence initiatives.
Before her tenure at S&B USA, Cicali held several leadership roles at Cardone Industries, Inc.. Over time, she assumed positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in her role as General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer. In that capacity, she integrated the responsibilities of Chief Legal Officer and Chief People Officer, overseeing legal affairs while also leading human resources and organizational functions.
This unique blend of legal and people leadership demonstrates her ability to operate at the intersection of compliance, culture, and strategic business development. By combining legal acumen with operational oversight, Cicali developed a holistic leadership approach that emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and long-term value creation.
Strategic Vision and Executive Endorsement
Armstrong’s incoming President and CEO, Mark Hershey, expressed strong confidence in Cicali’s appointment and the value she will bring to the organization.
According to Hershey, Cicali offers a critical combination of experience and skill that will further strengthen the enabling role played by Armstrong’s legal, sustainability, and government relations teams. He highlighted her track record as a strategic and highly collaborative business partner, capable of navigating complex commercial transactions and regulatory environments.
Hershey emphasized her proven ability to negotiate effectively, address multifaceted legal and regulatory challenges, and manage impactful government affairs initiatives. He also noted her engaged leadership style and strategic mindset, which align with Armstrong’s focus on innovation, operational performance, and stakeholder trust.
Her addition to the executive leadership team signals Armstrong’s continued commitment to integrating legal oversight, sustainability strategy, and public policy engagement into its core business framework.
Strengthening Corporate Governance and Sustainable Growth
The construction and building materials industry is experiencing increasing scrutiny related to environmental impact, regulatory compliance, and governance standards. As sustainability becomes central to corporate strategy, organizations must align legal frameworks with environmental commitments and transparent reporting.
Cicali’s expanded mandate at Armstrong reflects this evolving landscape. By overseeing sustainability and government relations alongside legal affairs, she will help ensure that corporate objectives are supported by strong governance, regulatory foresight, and environmental accountability.
Her cross-sector experience in infrastructure and manufacturing provides valuable insight into supply chain management, project execution risks, and regulatory oversight. These competencies will support Armstrong’s efforts to maintain compliance, manage risk effectively, and enhance its reputation as a responsible industry leader.
Academic Foundation and Professional Credentials
Cicali’s academic background reinforces her strong legal and business foundation. She earned her Juris Doctor from the Beasley School of Law at Temple University, where she developed expertise in corporate and regulatory law.
She also graduated magna cum laude from Immaculata University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Organizational Dynamics. This combination of legal education and business management studies has shaped her ability to approach legal challenges through a strategic and operational lens.
Her educational achievements, combined with two decades of executive leadership experience, position her to make an immediate and meaningful impact at Armstrong.
Positioning Armstrong for Continued Leadership
The appointment of Jessica M. Cicali represents a strategic investment in leadership depth at Armstrong World Industries. As the company continues to advance its portfolio of ceiling systems, specialty wall solutions, and exterior architectural applications, strong governance and sustainability leadership will remain essential to long-term success.
By bringing together legal, sustainability, and government relations under Cicali’s direction, Armstrong is reinforcing its commitment to responsible growth, regulatory excellence, and stakeholder engagement. Her extensive experience across manufacturing and infrastructure sectors equips her to navigate complex business landscapes while supporting innovation and operational performance.
With her official start date set for April 1, Cicali joins Armstrong at a pivotal moment, contributing to the company’s ongoing transformation and strengthening its foundation for sustainable, compliant, and forward-looking growth.
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