Since then, shares have rallied, mostly after the company reported strong second-quarter results in July, and have gained more than 20% in value.
“What stands out most about Suresh is his genuine connection with people. From the factory floor employees to our customers, he listens, learns and engages with every team member,” Rainer Gawlick, chair of Protolabs’ board of directors, said via email. “His leadership is rooted in collaboration and empowerment — qualities that align perfectly with our culture and future vision.”
Roland Quiah, a production team lead, checks on a manufacturing mill in September at Protolabs’ facility in Brooklyn Park. The company hopes to return to growth. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
A proponent of servant leadership, Krishna believes his role as CEO is to remove roadblocks and reduce friction so Protolabs workers can do a better job of satisfying customer needs.
Through his previous stops, Krishna said he has tested and tried to perfect a strategic development playbook where customer centricity is the leading tenet.
Joe Ryan, founder and CEO of the Excelsior-based national property development firm Oppidan Investment Co., would agree with Krishna’s approach.
“He is a very inclusive leader,” said Ryan, who got to know Krishna in his role at Northern Tool. “I find him, number one, to be wicked smart on how he thinks through processes.”
0 Comments