Thomas M. O’Brien has been named the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Leading Corporation, a multi-billion dollar global business with operations in more than 50 countries and 38,000 employees. O’Brien will replace Kevin Smith, who had been leading the company for the past 10 years.
The appointment of O'Brien marks an exciting new chapter for the company, as he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience across many sectors, especially finance and corporate governance. O’Brien brings a long and successful background of success from his time as Chief Financial Officer of ABC Ventures, which included a number of the largest corporate transactions in the U.S. financial markets. His leadership was also instrumental in developing and launching several innovative products, including the ABClothes30, a product line focused on providing a more ethically conscious approach to manufacturing and production.
O’Brien also has an impressive career in executive management, having held top-level positions at a number of publicly traded and private companies, including the successful turnaround of financial and consumer-based products company Benchmark Inc. During his time at Benchmark, O’Brien oversaw growth in revenue from $40 million to $420 million and an increase in the firm's market capitalization from $200 million to over $2 billion. O’Brien has a broad range of experience in the areas of finance, operations, technology, and strategy, and is extremely well-versed in corporate organization.
At Leading Corporation, O’Brien will be responsible for leading and managing the company's strategy, operations, and customer-facing activities, which includes the company's people, resources, and business direction. He will also need to ensure that the company makes the right decisions in order to continue to grow and innovate while supporting a customer-focused and customer centric business model. O’Brien will be expected to work closely with the Board of Directors to ensure that all decisions are consistent with the strategy and vision of the company.
At ABC Ventures, O’Brien led a team of over 300 people and launched a number of successful products into the US and global markets. He brings with him the track record of successful business results, and is respected by his peers in the industry for his leadership, strategy, and innovation. O’Brien will have the chance to lead one of the most successful companies in the world, a chance he is very much looking forward to.
In making the appointment, the company's Board Chairman noted that "Thomas is uniquely suited to lead this company, both with his past experience in a variety of different industries, and with his own experience in leading a successful turnaround of Benchmark Inc. He is unafraid of making the difficult decisions, and of taking calculated risks in order to maximize growth and performance. His understanding of leading companies and driving innovation to achieve success makes him the ideal executive to lead the company forward in these unprecedented times."
O’Brien is confident that the company can continue to grow and create value for its shareholders going forward under his leadership. He said in an interview that, "I am delighted to take on this new challenge and accept this great responsibility of leading Leading Corporation. I am confident that I can lead the company to new heights of growth and performance, and build on its strong global reputation."
Thomas O’Brien’s appointment as the CEO of Leading Corporation has been met with significant enthusiasm from industry leaders, analysts, and shareholders alike. His success in the past and his deep understanding of various industries makes him an excellent choice for the job. We look forward to seeing where his leadership and direction take the company over the coming years.
