The Family Business CEOs to Watch Class of 2024 comprises 20 exceptional business leaders who are charting the course for long-term success of their enterprises. They include members of the second through fifth generations of family ownership as well as non-family leaders.
Jeffrey Walsh
CEO | Non-family | Sasser Family Companies, Schaumburg, Ill.
Jeffrey Walsh is the first non-family CEO of Sasser Family Companies. The enterprise, which began in Chicago in 1928, now includes six individual businesses representing $2 billion in assets globally, operating in the railcar, auto, truck, aviation ground support and tank container markets. They provide equipment solutions including leasing, fleet management, repair, maintenance and technology services.
Walsh joined Sasser Family Companies in 2013 with over 25 years of leadership experience in the transportation industry. He served as chief operating officer before being named CEO in 2017.
Previously, he spent 17 years with GATX Corporation, taking on increasing levels of responsibility until he ultimately oversaw three separate business groups: Industrial Equipment Finance, Marine Finance and Rail Structured Finance. Before that, he spent 10 years with GE Capital, working his way up through the Genstar Container and GE Capital Rail Service businesses.
Under Walsh’s leadership, Sasser Family Companies was named as one of Crain‘s “Best Places to Work in Chicago” in 2020 and as one of Fortune’s “Best Workplaces in Chicago” in 2023.
Walsh holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley, where he played four years of varsity football.
“Jeff Walsh is a perfect fit as our first non-family CEO,” says third-generation family member Fred Sasser, the chair emeritus and previous CEO and chair. “He has migrated our organization to an opportunity-based culture, which drives high performance of the team while extending multiple learning and career opportunities to staff and managers who are ready to move up.
“While Jeff’s management training and experience comes from his years at two Fortune 500 competitors in our market space, his natural style is ‘at home’ with the values of integrity, respect and stewardship that are critical for our family ownership.
“Jeff has installed a practice of managers being able to move across our different business units as each individual learns and demonstrates their capabilities. This results in incredible performance of our businesses as they take the best practices from our own experiences and innovations, and a structure and commitment to continue the success long term.”
“As the CEO of Sasser Family Companies, I am most proud of our culture, which is rooted in family values and a relentless commitment to growth,” Walsh says. “Since 1928, the Sasser family has set an example of treating every employee as an extension of their own, which has driven a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. Working with the Sasser family to maintain this culture while continuing to grow the company has always been at the heart of my leadership. Watching the company expand while maintaining our core values has been incredibly rewarding.
“As the fourth generation of Sasser family members become involved in the business, I believe our success is a testament to playing the long game and the dedication and passion of our team members. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, we are constantly seeking new ways to grow and evolve.
“I am honored to be a part of this extraordinary organization and to be entrusted with helping to shape its future.”