Patrick J.

About Patrick J.

I’ve built my career in situations where the numbers alone don’t tell the full story—where boards and management teams need clear-eyed judgement on decisions that can alter a company’s trajectory. That has meant stepping into moments of pressure on legacy business models and anticipating long-term consequences for strategy and leadership talent. As EVP & CFO of Plexus Corp.(NASDAQ: PLXS), I have spent more than a decade helping reshape the company from a volume-driven electronics manufacturer into a more focused, higher-value enterprise. We doubled revenue to more than $4B, expanded globally, and significantly improved cash generation—all while shifting the portfolio toward healthcare, aerospace and defense, and industrial markets. My responsibilities extend well beyond finance to include advising the Board on capital deployment and helping navigate CEO and Audit Chair transitions during a period of sustained change. My pragmatic approach to risk and governance was shaped early in my career. At Appleton Papers, I helped navigate liquidity constraints and covenant negotiations as core markets declined, while also building the company’s first enterprise risk framework. At Banta Corporation, I was part of the team that supported the Board through a hostile takeover scenario, developing valuation analyses that informed the company’s ultimate sale. I began my career at PwC, working with multinational clients and developing a grounding in financial reporting and controls. I translate operating realities into board-level decision-making—bringing forward the implications of capital allocation, risk, and strategy in a way that is direct and usable. I also place a high premium on building finance teams that can operate with that same level of clarity and judgment, particularly in global, decentralized environments. Board-Level Expertise: Public company governance, SEC reporting, and Audit Committee engagement Capital allocation, M&A, and disciplined investment decision-making Enterprise risk management and internal controls Transformation and portfolio repositioning in dynamic market environments Global operations across Asia-Pacific, EMEA, and the Americas Technology enablement, including AI and automation in operations and finance CEO succession, executive development, and leadership transition In addition to directly engaging in board meetings through my tenure at Plexus, I have also served on nonprofit boards, including the Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley and the Fox Valley Symphony.

Experience

1. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   Plexus Corp.

   May 2014 — Present

   Led global finance organization and served as strategic partner to CEO, overseeing Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Internal Audit, Investor Relations, and Enterprise Planning. Drove talent development across the Finance function and engaged closely with the Board of Directors.

Education

• Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management

  MBA, Business Administration and Management, General

• Wake Forest University

  Accounting, Accounting