Tom Oconnor

Background

About Tom Oconnor

Throughout my career, I have provided the legal and business leadership to add significant value to organizations, as well as their shareholders and employees. Currently, as the Vice President of Compliance & Ethics, EH & S, and Stewardship for Guardian Industries, my teams and I oversee global programs that allow the company to anticipate and mitigate risks. Signature strengths: Turning around organizations experiencing issues with culture, compliance, and financial performance Managing teams and programs across markets worldwide Redefining the role of compliance and legal functions from a business inhibitor to a business enabler Serving as a trusted advisor to executive teams, boards of directors, and operations teams at all levels of the organization Key to my success in building the teams and capabilities entrusted to me is my commitment to the foundational concepts of action, urgency, ownership, and respect. These concepts were instilled in me at a young age by my father, a high-school dropout who ascended to the leadership ranks within the New York City Fire Department purely through grit and perseverance while holding several side jobs. He unfailingly but lovingly encouraged me to “own” my efforts and do the right thing—not to avoid failing him, but to avoid failing myself. I have carried that life lesson with me throughout my professional journey. Today, I am a proven senior executive leader who designs and leads global legal, risk, compliance, and ESG programs, while deploying enterprise transformation to maximize the contributions of each individual. I am eager to share my vision in creating organizational cultures that ensures all employees do the right thing, even when no one is looking, and I welcome InMails and connection requests.