The Polk file
Education: Bachelor of science degree, Denison University, Granville, Ohio
History: Great-grandson of R.L. Polk & Co. founder Ralph Lane Polk; employed by company since 1981; president since 1990; chairman and CEO since 1994
Polk on the CEO’s role in setting the stage for the future: My role is to lead the organization and prove a foundational direction for the business. The senior leadership team we have in place at Polk is effective and dynamic, and all of them are accomplished leaders. I work very closely with them, both individually and as a team, to help further develop our business goals and objectives, develop strategic ways we can be supporting customers and representing Polk in the marketplace.
Polk on achieving success in the current business climate: It may sound cliché, but it’s the reality of things — if our customers succeed, we succeed. In our business, it truly is about the relationships and strategic partnerships we have with our customers, to help them achieve their business goals and to help them succeed in the marketplace.
