Speetzen named interim CEO at Polaris

Michael Speetzen

Polaris Inc. announced that its board of directors appointed Michael Speetzen, the company’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, to serve as interim chief executive officer of the global powersports manufacturer. In addition, John Wiehoff, the company’s lead independent director, was appointed board chairman and Bob Mack, Polaris’ senior vice president of Corporate Development & Strategy and president of Global Adjacent Markets and Boats, has been appointed interim chief financial officer.

Each of the appointments was effective Jan. 1 and followed the previously announced departure of Chairman and CEO Scott Wine at the end of the year.

“We appreciate Mike and Bob taking on these expanded roles while we progress our CEO search,” said Wiehoff. “Mike and Bob have made significant contributions to Polaris’ success during their respective tenures.”

Speetzen joined Polaris in August 2015 as executive vice president, Finance and CFO. Prior to joining Polaris, Speetzen was senior vice president and CFO of Xylem, Inc. since 2011, when the company was formed from the spinoff of the water businesses of ITT Corp. He joined ITT in 2009. Prior to ITT, he was executive vice president and CFO for the StandardAero Co. and earlier held positions at Honeywell and General Electric.

Mack joined Polaris in April 2016 as senior vice president of Corporate Development and Strategy, and president of Adjacent Markets. Prior to joining Polaris, Mack was at Ingersoll Rand, for 20 years, at the end serving as vice president, Corporate Development, where he had global responsibility for its acquisition and divestiture activities.

Wiehoff has served as a member of the Polaris Board of Directors since 2007 and as lead independent director since 2013. He was chairman and CEO for C.H. Robinson, retiring in May 2020 and May 2019, respectively. Previous positions with C.H. Robinson include president, senior vice president, CFO, treasurer, and corporate controller. Prior to joining C.H. Robinson in 1992, he was employed by Arthur Andersen LLP. Wiehoff also serves on the board of Donaldson Co.