Kent J Darragh

Bio

Following a thirty-year career in the automotive and engineered polymer industries, with responsibilities spanning the Americas, Europe and Asia/Pacific, Mr. Darragh has been involved in small business leadership and consulting services in northeast Ohio, Michigan and Ontario, Canada. This entrepreneurial experience includes a venture into the information technology market as owner and CEO of an early-stage data storage systems integration business, as well as a web-based startup enterprise. Mr. Darragh’s eleven years of experience in the polymer industry included operating leadership at B.F.Goodrich, where he headed up a group of global performance materials businesses and a start-up venture. Prior to that, he served in executive roles at M.A.Hanna Company, a leading manufacturer and distributor of engineered plastic, rubber and colorant materials. There he led the global plastic shapes distribution unit, transforming a successful business into a world-class company through innovative changes in the business model and culture. His polymer experience also included managing the integration of a major acquisition, as well as playing a key role in the divestiture of a $1.4 billion group of businesses to a private equity investor consortium. Earlier in his career, Mr. Darragh served in financial, operations and sales capacities in the automotive industry at Ford Motor Company and Rockwell International, based in Michigan. In the late 1980’s he led Rockwell’s aftermarket parts distribution business, serving the major truck OEMs and fleets, as well as independent warehouse distributors. His automotive experience equipped him with the knowledge and skills to lead a high-performance organization, run a business strategically, develop efficient business processes, and cultivate a great team of people. Currently, Mr. Darragh serves on the boards of Growth Phases, LLC (an international consulting firm based in Chicago and Brussels) and RePlay for Kids (a nonprofit organization based in Northeast Ohio). Raised and educated in Canada, Mr. Darragh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and an MBA, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario; BA - Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.