Jeff Whalen is a seasoned sales and business development executive with over 33 years of experience in the automotive, electronics, semiconductor, and emerging technology sectors. Recognized for his strategic foresight and dynamic leadership, Jeff has built a distinguished career leading technical sales organizations and driving transformative growth across global markets. His expertise spans the full spectrum of sales operations, supply chain management, customer engagement, and strategic planning—making him a highly valuable advisor and board candidate for organizations navigating the intersection of innovation and market expansion.
Jeff currently serves as a Regional Sales Manager at Infineon Technologies, where he leads key initiatives to support customer success and drive revenue within the U.S. market. Prior to this, he held the role of Senior Manager of Technical Sales and Distribution at Infineon, managing complex distribution channels and deepening partnerships across the automotive value chain. His ability to bridge technical knowledge with strategic sales execution has consistently delivered value to both clients and internal stakeholders.
Before joining Infineon, Jeff held influential leadership roles at Bourns, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, where he directed large-scale sales teams across the Americas, including operations in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. As Director of Automotive Americas and General Manager of the Michigan Region at Arrow, he successfully scaled regional revenues from $81 million to $179 million, and later from $315 million to over $410 million, while managing teams of 30+ employees and leading 15 branch offices. His strategic leadership in these roles focused on building strong sales infrastructures, elevating team performance, and deepening client relationships with major OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
Jeff began his career with Pioneer Electronics and later spent 15 years at Miltimore Sales Inc., where he honed his expertise in automotive qualification processes, including APQP/PPAP, and developed custom solutions for clients requiring highly specialized mechanical and electro-mechanical systems. His early exposure to technical sales, coupled with his deep understanding of the automotive product lifecycle, laid the groundwork for his rise into executive roles.
Jeff’s global business experience includes working with stakeholders across Germany, Japan, China, Mexico, Spain, and Malaysia, further broadening his operational perspective and cultural fluency. He is a confident public speaker, having regularly delivered presentations and technical seminars to partners and customers. While he has not authored publications or patents, his influence is reflected in the measurable results and successful teams he has built throughout his career.
Outside of his professional accomplishments, Jeff values integrity, discipline, and follow-through. His personal mission statement—“Do what you say you’re gonna do”—encapsulates the principle-based leadership he brings to every endeavor. He is also passionate about home improvement, golf, and sports, activities that align with his drive for continuous improvement, strategy, and competitive spirit.
With a steadfast commitment to innovation, execution, and results, Jeff Whalen is now actively seeking board service opportunities where he can apply his decades of leadership, global experience, and strategic insight to help organizations grow, adapt, and thrive in today’s complex business landscape. His broad industry knowledge and ability to align operational excellence with forward-thinking strategy make him an exceptional candidate for boards across both established and emerging sectors.
Character: Jeff Whalen is a principled leader who consistently follows through on commitments, embodying integrity and reliability in every professional engagement.
Knowledge: With over 33 years of experience, Jeff possesses deep expertise in automotive, electronics, and semiconductor industries, coupled with a strong grasp of sales operations and supply chain processes.
Strategic: He has a proven track record of scaling revenues and leading multi-regional teams, demonstrating his ability to develop and execute effective growth strategies.
Communication: Jeff is an articulate communicator and experienced public speaker who effectively engages partners, customers, and cross-functional teams to build trust and alignment.
