With over 35 years of distinguished experience in leadership roles within a Fortune 5 company, Steve R. Cherek has established himself as a visionary leader in the realm of Information Systems and Business Development. His expertise spans managing large-scale global IT efforts, developing and implementing long-term IT and business strategies, and influencing corporate board members. Steve has an extensive track record in financial analysis, corporate planning, and business development, combined with a deep technical understanding and hands-on experience in applications development, network installation, and IT infrastructure.
Steve’s career highlights include leading ExxonMobil’s strategic IT initiatives, where he was responsible for a team of over 3,000 staff and an annual IT budget exceeding $600 million. His leadership extended to overseeing IT services for 12 corporate departments, directly supporting 10,000 employees globally. As a business strategist, he played a pivotal role in ExxonMobil’s financial planning for a $3 billion annual operating expense organization, and he has significant experience negotiating multi-million-dollar agreements with Fortune 500 companies. Notably, Steve has stewarded a $1 billion IT project portfolio, providing oversight for more than 500 projects, and successfully led numerous high-impact technology implementations across various business functions.
During his tenure at ExxonMobil, Steve held several key leadership positions including Business Analysis & Reporting Manager, where he built and led the company’s first global business analysis department. As Corporate Digital Strategy Co-Lead, he shaped the organization’s digital strategy across all divisions, impacting global business and IT operations. Steve also served as Corporate IT Manager, managing an annual IT budget of $500 million and supporting 10,000 business employees, and as Global Applications Manager, responsible for 3,000 business applications and overseeing a team of 3,000 IT professionals.
A versatile leader, Steve has managed large-scale business implementations, including sales, distribution, supply chain, financial, and accounting systems, and is experienced in all phases of application life-cycle management. His technical acumen includes expertise in mainframe and client-server development, PC hardware/software, database design, and ERP package implementation.
Steve holds a B.A. in Management of Information Systems from the University of Oklahoma and has completed executive education programs at prestigious institutions including Rice University, Thunderbird University, Stanford University, and Harvard University. Additionally, he is a founding member of the SAP Executive Advisory Board, reflecting his standing as a respected thought leader in IT and business development.
Character: Steve R. Cherek demonstrates integrity, leadership, and dedication, reflected in his 35-year commitment to excellence within a Fortune 5 company.
Knowledge: He possesses extensive knowledge in IT management, financial analysis, business development, and technical systems, with a broad understanding of both strategy and operations.
Strategic: Steve is skilled in developing and implementing comprehensive long-term strategies for IT and business, effectively aligning corporate objectives and digital transformation goals.
Communication: He excels in influencing corporate board members, collaborating across diverse teams, and articulating complex IT and business concepts to senior management and stakeholders.
