Tom Kolder

Vice Chairman

Tom Kolder is Vice Chairman of Crist|Kolder Associates. Tom is a 27-year veteran of the executive search industry. He joined Crist|Kolder Associates as President in 2004, and over the last 18 years, he has been active in recruiting CEOs, CFOs and Board members to a variety of operating companies. His work spans virtually all industries, as evidenced by a client list that includes Apple, CAT, ITW, Johnson Controls, Owens Corning, Polaris Industries, WESCO, Kohl’s, Baxter, JELD-WEN, and Wendy’s, among others.

Prior to joining the Firm, Tom was a Managing Director with Russell Reynolds Associates based in Chicago. While at Russell Reynolds, he led the Firm's Global Manufactured Products Practice, focusing on CEO, COO, CFO and senior supply chain searches for a variety of heavy industrial, consumer durable, and industrial technology companies. In addition to his industry focus, Tom led Russell Reynolds' Financial Officers Practice activities in the Midwest.

Before joining Russell Reynolds in 1995, Tom was Manager, Corporate Business Development for General Electric Company and then Manager, Productivity Programs for General Electric Medical Systems. Earlier in his career, he was a Senior Associate with Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., consulting on operational issues for aerospace, defense, and general industrial corporations. Tom began his career as a Section Manager, Product Development, and Manufacturing Engineer for McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

Tom received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois in Mechanical Engineering in 1986 and his Master of Management degree from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1990.