Carlisle Companies Incorporated Chairman, President and CEO to be honored as 2020 Executive of the Year

Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business has announced that D. Christian “Chris” Koch, chairman, president and CEO of Carlisle Companies Incorporated, was awarded its Executive of the Year Award for 2020. The award honors exceptional global business leaders who have created and sustained superior organizational performance and whose presence exemplifies a model for future business leaders.

Koch is the 37th Executive of the Year chosen by the Dean's Council, a national group of prominent executives who advise the W. P. Carey School of Business. He joins top executives from leading companies such as American Airlines, U-Haul International and the Coca-Cola Co. Koch has achieved exceptional results in his nearly five years as CEO.

Carlisle Companies Inc. is a global portfolio of brands and businesses that manufacture highly engineered products and solutions for diverse markets, including for aerospace, medical, defense, transportation, industrial, agriculture, mining and construction. Its worldwide team of employees generated $4.8 billion in net sales and an operating income of $654 million in 2019.

Koch joined Carlisle in 2008, and was named president and CEO in January 2016 and chairman of the board of directors in 2020. A board member of Headstrong Project, Toro Co., and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Koch has also held leadership positions at Graco Inc. in Shanghai and Minneapolis, and at the H.B. Fuller Company.

In recognition of his leadership, the W. P. Carey School honored him on Friday, Aug. 21, and he will speak at a luncheon in his honor on Thursday, Oct. 22, which was rescheduled from April 2020.

“I’m thrilled to honor Chris Koch as this year's Executive of the Year,” W. P. Carey School of Business Dean Amy Hillman said. “He’s been tested in difficult times and continually proven the ability to successfully take on larger leadership responsibilities. We’re proud of what he’s been able to accomplish for our region and our state.”

“I’m honored to be named Executive of the Year by Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business’ Dean’s Council,” Koch said. “I’m also proud to be both a member of the Arizona business community and a resident of Arizona. Carlisle moved to Arizona in 2016 to be closer to our manufacturing footprint and to leverage Arizona’s pro-business environment, skilled workforce and exceptional quality of life. We fully support the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s and Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s vision of transforming the Phoenix economy into an industrial and high-tech hub that will position Phoenix as a business leader nationally in the coming years, fully supported by ASU’s world-class engineering and technical infrastructure.

"And while it seems trivial to speak of a personal award while Arizona, the United States and countries around the globe continue to face the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m proud of our employees who have rallied around each other, our customers and our communities, helping keep infection rates low and ensuring that we continue to provide products and services to many of the world’s essential businesses.”

He has two sons, Christian and Nicolas, with his wife, Amy, and is an avid golfer, skier and hockey player.