Steve Guillaume is a highly experienced business leader with a distinguished career spanning over three decades in cross-functional leadership, strategic business development, operational excellence, product development and P&L management. He has a proven track record of rapidly adapting to new industries, formulating clear visions for organizational success, and driving top-line growth while enhancing profitability. Steve’s also has expertise in M&A transactions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships. His ability to develop a collaborative culture, execute cost reductions and operational efficiencies, optimize organizational structures, launch new innovative products and develop robust pricing strategies has consistently resulted in significant EBITDA growth and market share expansion.

Over his career, Steve has demonstrated a remarkable ability to lead high-impact initiatives across various sectors, particularly in the powertrian, specialty vehicles, and commercial truck industries. His deep understanding of business operations, coupled with his strong leadership skills, has enabled him to spearhead critical projects that have delivered exceptional financial and operational results.

Notable Achievements:

• Business Acquisitions and M&A Expertise: Steve has led and executed and lead over 10 high-value acquisitions and joint ventures, contributing to over $1 billion in top-line growth. He has lead and directed contract negotiations, due diligence processes, and the seamless integration of acquired businesses, consistently achieving strategic alignment and financial performance targets.
• Distribution and Market Expansion: Steve successfully launched a new dealer sales and service channel comprising 30 dealers across the U.S. and Canada within just two years. This initiative significantly boosted whole goods and parts sales, expanding market reach and driving revenue growth. His strategic approach to market development has consistently delivered impressive results.
• Operational Efficiencies and Cost Optimization: Steve has been instrumental in implementing operational improvements that have led to substantial cost reductions and enhanced productivity. For example, he led the launch of a new production facility for the Reach parcel delivery vehicle, driving a 40% reduction in production hours per unit. Additionally, his leadership in executing a company-wide restructuring resulted in a 30% reduction in SG&A expenses and over $2 million in annual savings.
• Customer Development and Exclusive Contracts: Steve’s customer-focused approach has resulted in securing exclusive long-term contracts with major clients, including a 10-year contract worth approximately $10 billion with a leading OEM. He also achieved exclusivity with a large disgruntled customer that resulted in $100M in annual sales.  His ability to identify customer needs, develop tailored solutions, and negotiate favorable terms has consistently strengthened customer relationships and delivered high-margin business growth.
• Innovation and Product Launches: Throughout his career, Steve has championed product innovation, successfully launching numerous industry-leading products. These include portfolio expansion of customer models from 3 to 20, advanced safety and technology features such as tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), collision mitigation, and customer customized digital dashboard, which have not only increased sales but also improved margins. His ability to bring new products to market while meeting quality and operational targets has solidified his reputation as a visionary in product development leader.

Career Highlights:

• President, Specialty Vehicles Group at Shyft Group (2020 – April 2023): As President of Shyft Group’s Specialty Vehicles division, Steve led a $400 million revenue business with 1,200 employees across nine locations. He had full P&L responsibility over all functions and led the successful integration of 4 newly acquired businesses while expanding existing product lines. Under his leadership, the division experienced over 40% top-line growth in just two years, achieving an 18% EBITDA margin. Steve was also responsible for launching new facilities, managing product portfolios, and executing pricing strategies that offset rising material and labor costs while enhancing margins by 3-5%.
• President, Specialty Chassis and Vehicles at Spartan Motors (2015 – 2019): Steve led Spartan’s Specialty Chassis and Vehicles unit with $200 million in revenue and 700 employees. During his tenure, he executed a successful business turnaround that resulted in 55% revenue growth and a threefold improvement in EBITDA. He expanded the motorhome product portfolio, grew market share by 100%, and negotiated long-term supplier agreements that significantly reduced costs and improved profitability.
• Vice President and General Manager at Navistar International (2005 – 2014): At Navistar, Steve led the Continental Mixer & EZ Pack truck group, a $200 million business unit where he led distribution expansion, pricing strategies, and organization restructuring  that drove improved profitability and successfully doubled market share in less than two years.  Additionally, as General Manager of the Medium & Vocational Truck division, he managed a $2.5 billion revenue business and drove numerous marketing and distribution initiatives and product enhancements that drove a 10% market share increase to 40% in a highly competitive environment.

Current Endeavors: Since May 2023, Steve has been self-employed, focusing on management and business consulting as well as real estate development initiatives. His consulting work draws on his extensive experience in driving top-line growth, improving operational efficiencies, and executing successful business acquisitions. Steve offers valuable insights to organizations seeking to enhance their strategic positioning and optimize their business performance.

Educational Background: Steve holds a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Baylor University. His academic foundation, combined with his practical business acumen, has enabled him to excel in complex, fast-paced business environments.

Leadership Philosophy: At the core of Steve’s leadership philosophy is a commitment to  driving sustainable growth through innovation, customer focus, quality, acquisitions and partnerships . He believes in fostering a collaborative and accountable work culture where cross-functional teams are empowered to deliver exceptional results. His ability to inspire and lead teams with a common vision through change and challenge has been a key factor in his success across various leadership roles.

Steve Guillaume’s exceptional track record, combined with his expertise in strategic growth, operational leadership, and business development, makes him a valuable leader and consultant in today’s competitive business landscape. His ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver tangible results continues to position him as a trusted advisor and industry innovator.

Character: Steve Guillaume is known for his integrity, hands-on leadership, and ability to inspire teams to achieve consistent bottom line results and sustainable growth.

Knowledge: With over 30 years of experience in strategy development, P&L management, business development, and operational optimization, Steve brings deep expertise across multiple industries, particularly in automotive and specialty vehicles.

Strategic: Steve excels in formulating and executing strategic initiatives that drive top-line growth, enhance profitability, and expand market share through innovative product launches and successful business acquisitions.

Communication: His strong communication skills allow him to effectively lead cross-functional teams, negotiate high-value contracts, and maintain long-term relationships with key stakeholders.rs.