Gary Michel is a sought-after keynote speaker, advisor, and board director known for helping leaders cut through complexity, accelerate performance, and build organizations that thrive in dynamic environments. With nearly four decades of executive leadership experience, Gary brings a unique blend of operational rigor, strategic clarity, and practical insight to audiences across industries.

As former Chair and CEO of JELD-WEN, a $4.8 billion global manufacturer, Gary led large-scale transformation across a 25,000-employee organization spanning North America, Europe, and Australasia. He also served as President and CEO of Honeywell Home and Building Technologies and held senior leadership roles at Ingersoll Rand, where he led iconic brands including Trane, Club Car, and Schlage. Across these roles, Gary developed a reputation for driving growth, strengthening brands, and delivering sustainable business performance.

Today, Gary works with organizations around the world as a keynote speaker and workshop leader, focusing on leadership development, business transformation, brand and commercial excellence, and organizational effectiveness. His approach is grounded in the practical frameworks and principles he developed over his career and captured in his writing.

Gary is the author of Decomplify: How Simplicity Drives Stability, Innovation, and Transformation, an Amazon bestseller and award-winning book that challenges leaders to eliminate unnecessary complexity and focus on what truly matters to unlock performance. His upcoming book, The Founder’s Mindset: How to Lead with Clarity and Purpose in Any Organization, expands on these ideas, equipping leaders with tools to think and act like founders—bringing greater ownership, agility, and purpose to their organizations.

In addition to his speaking and advisory work, Gary serves on public and private company boards and is Chairman of the Board of the American Heart Association. He is a Forbes Featured Author and Vistage Resource Speaker, frequently called upon to engage executive teams and leadership groups.

Gary holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA. He is known for delivering engaging, practical, and inspiring sessions that leave leaders with clear, actionable ways to simplify, focus, and lead with purpose.