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For nearly four decades, Robert Johannigman’s overarching focus has been on impactful strategic planning and merger and acquisition initiatives, with specific attention given to driving successful execution at the corporate level to accelerate sales growth and profitability. Robert has held various leadership roles in a wide variety of companies and industries, including wholesale distribution, semiconductor and sensor technology, spectroscopy, electronic interconnect systems and mobile digital marketing.
Robert’s experience includes 20 years as co-owner and co-CEO of his third-generation family business. Through acquisition and internal growth, the value of the business successfully increased from $20M to $120M and was successfully sold to the largest competitor.
Robert grew up working in his family’s wholesale distribution business started by his grandfather in 1924. From an early age, he experienced first-hand, the ups and downs of owning and running a family business. There was no pressure to join the business however, his father made it known that if he were ever to become interested, Robert would need to have outside experience and skills that would ultimately bring value to the business.
Over the course of his career, Robert has become particularly adept at building and leading sales and marketing teams and developing their capabilities to successive levels of excellence. He also possesses considerable international sales and marketing experience in North America, Europe and Asia.
After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Robert married and moved to Chicago to complete a master’s in Public Policy followed by an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago. Robert then started his career, first as a management consultant, followed by several sales management roles, both domestic and international. Eventually, he was asked to join the family business and Robert became co-owner and co-CEO after his father’s retirement.
Robert is proud to be a member of the RFN Advisory Group team and grateful for the opportunity to apply and share his experience and skills with clients preparing for business transition at the highest possible value.