Xylem Inc. has created a new leadership position responsible for driving operational excellence and process simplification across the organization. Anthony Milando has been hired as Xylem’s first senior vice president for continuous improvement and business transformation, effective Feb. 2.

Milando, who will report directly to President and CEO Patrick Decker, will also serve as a member of the company’s senior leadership team. He will be based at Xylem’s global headquarters in Rye Brook, N.Y.

“We’re very excited to welcome Tony to the Xylem Senior Leadership Team,” Decker says.  “In this new role, he will accelerate the deployment of continuous improvement tools and methodologies across all aspects of our business. He has a proven track record of success in this area and we look forward to his contributions, which will enable Xylem to operate more effectively and deliver superior solutions for our customers.”

Most recently, Milando served in senior executive roles at the Stanley Black & Decker Corporation, including vice president corporate growth and vice president global operations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Townson University in Maryland and a master’s in business administration from Loyola University Maryland.

Xylem, based in Rye Brook, N.Y., serves the public utility, residential, commercial and agricultural markets with a variety of pump and water treatment products. The company has about 12,500 employees worldwide. For more information, visit www.xyleminc.com.