Chief Performance Officer

Description

Our most important asset is our people. Who we are, what we do, how we do it and why we are passionate are all centerpieces of why we succeed. 

We are proud to be recognized:

• Among America's Best Midsize Employers by Forbes in 2021, 2022 and 2024
• As a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace for four consecutive years (2021-2025) 

We currently operate in-office Monday-Thursday, with an optional remote day on Friday. 

Role Summary

As Chief Performance Officer, this role serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and strategic partner to the President & CEO, with responsibility for driving enterprise performance, organizational effectiveness, and execution of the company's strategic priorities. The Chief Performance Officer leads the Finance and Accounting functions while partnering closely with senior leaders across the organization to align resources, initiatives, and investments with business objectives.

This role plays a central role in enterprise decision-making, providing the insights, operating discipline, and performance management processes necessary to support long-term growth, profitability, and operational excellence. The Chief Performance Officer will help translate strategy into execution, bringing clarity, accountability, and data-driven decision-making to the organization's most important priorities.

While Finance and Accounting report to this position, this is not intended to be a traditional CFO role. We are seeking an enterprise leader focused on organizational performance, strategic execution, and business results. The ideal candidate brings enough financial expertise to provide strong stewardship and insight, but differentiates themselves through their ability to align leaders, drive accountability, and improve enterprise-wide performance.

This role reports directly to the President & CEO.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Finance and Accounting functions, ensuring strong financial stewardship, planning, reporting, controls, compliance, and business partnership across the organization.
• Partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, measurable outcomes, and enterprise-wide accountability.
• Drive performance management across the organization by establishing clear goals, metrics, and operating rhythms that support business objectives.
• Lead enterprise performance reviews, helping leaders identify opportunities, address challenges, and accelerate execution.
• Develop and maintain executive dashboards, KPIs, and reporting frameworks that provide visibility into organizational performance and key strategic initiatives.
• Use financial, operational, and business metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Facilitate cross-functional decision-making to ensure alignment, resource optimization, and effective execution of strategic priorities.
• Establish a disciplined approach to evaluating investments, initiatives, and business opportunities, ensuring alignment with company objectives and expected returns.
• Partner with Finance, Operations, Commercial, and Shared Services leaders to improve planning, forecasting, and business performance management.
• Lead or support enterprise transformation initiatives focused on organizational effectiveness, productivity, process improvement, and growth.
• Champion data-driven decision-making and modern business intelligence capabilities, including the use of analytics, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.
• Monitor progress against strategic objectives and proactively identify areas requiring intervention, support, or course correction.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and other strategic initiatives by ensuring alignment, execution discipline, and performance tracking.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team on enterprise priorities, organizational effectiveness, and business performance.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to operate as both a strategic thinker and execution-focused leader in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated success driving organizational performance, transformation, and cross-functional business initiatives.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to connect strategy, operations, and performance outcomes.
• Experience establishing performance management frameworks, KPIs, and executive reporting processes.
• Exceptional ability to influence and align senior leaders around shared priorities and business objectives.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with a bias for action and results.
• Experience leading organizational change, process improvement, or business transformation initiatives.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity, focus, and accountability across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Familiarity with modern analytics, business intelligence, performance management, and AI-enabled tools.
• Executive presence and communication skills suitable for Board-level and executive engagement.

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Operations, or a related field required.
• MBA strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership experience in business performance, strategy, finance, operations, transformation, consulting, or related executive roles.
• Experience working closely with senior executives to drive enterprise-wide performance and strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated track record of improving organizational effectiveness, business performance, and execution of strategic priorities.
• Experience in financial planning, business analytics, operational leadership, or transformation functions preferred.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations, and complex strategic initiatives is a plus.

The hiring range for this position in Itasca is $350,000 to $400,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills and experience, among other factors. An annual incentive may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. An overview of our benefits offering is available here: .

Fellowes Brands - A Family Business Since 1917
For over a century, Fellowes has been committed to positively impacting people through our culture, relationships and solutions. We have evolved toward relevance with each decade and generation, responding to a constantly changing world. Today, we are on an ambitious journey to grow our influence and impact in enhancing and maximizing work experiences worldwide. We are a “Brand on the Move” and remain committed to finding new ways to help people work better and feel better. 

Visit our Careers Site: www.fellowesbrands.com/us/en/careers/Pages/overview.aspx

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Fellowes, Inc. does not accept unsolicited resumes from any agencies that have not signed a mutual service agreement. All unsolicited resumes will be considered Fellowes' property, and Fellowes will not be obligated to pay a referral fee. This includes resumes submitted directly to hiring managers without contacting the Talent Acquisition Department.

#LI-Onsite

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

PI286730315