Introducing Mark O’Leary – Our new President and CEO

The staff and board of directors of Enterprise Minnesota have had a chance to connect with Mark O’Leary over the last couple of weeks, and we couldn’t be more pleased that he’ll be serving as our next president and CEO.

His appointment followed a rigorous search and review process. “The interview committee narrowed it down, then a wider group met with the final candidates,” says Joe Plunger, board chair of Enterprise Minnesota CEO of Midwest Metal Products in Winona. The process included input from the board, current President Bob Kill, as well as four staff members representing Enterprise Minnesota employees.

“Mark comes to Enterprise Minnesota with broad leadership experience in building businesses and delivering profitable growth in manufacturing, financial services, supply chain, healthcare, and technology. This expertise will be invaluable,” says Plunger.

Prior to joining Enterprise Minnesota, O’Leary served as the chief marketing officer of SPS Commerce, a global supply chain network. As executive lead for SPS Europe—with 2,000 customers in 14 countries—he worked to improve operations and performance while driving innovation.

O’Leary also served as president of Taylor Healthcare, a $250 million technology and solutions company that was acquired out of chapter 11. After a rapid and successful turnaround, he was promoted to president of Taylor Communications, where he led restructuring of the $1.2 billion, 4,000-employee company.

At the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education at the University of Minnesota, a U.S.-based public-private partnership and hub for resources designed to transform healthcare through team-based care, O’Leary led the restructuring of the business to build revenue sustainability beyond its initial grant-based operations.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and a Master of Business Administration from Creighton University in Omaha.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the people who start their own companies and operate their own businesses,” O’Leary says. “That’s the heart of what Enterprise Minnesota is—helping those companies grow profitably.”

He expects to continue leading the organization on its current course. “Bob and the Enterprise Minnesota team have done a brilliant job. This is a very well-run organization that has been making a positive impact for decades,” he says.

O’Leary, who lives in St. Paul with his family, looks forward to the first 100 days of his tenure, when he plans to visit manufacturers, listen to their concerns and learn about their challenges. He’ll also connect with supporters of manufacturing, including economic development organizations, educational institutions, and policymakers, who play a pivotal role in advancing the industry across the state.

Plunger expects O’Leary to make a positive early impression. “I see him very easily making connections throughout the state,” he says, adding, “I think he’ll be a great steward of Enterprise Minnesota and bring great value to the organization, much as Bob has done during his tenure.”

Kill, who will retire this spring, adds, “I’m delighted to hand over the reins on March 2nd to Mark O’Leary. He’s an experienced leader with the style and people skills this organization needs and deserves.”

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