John Markt

John began his career in the human resources profession.  Working for large/global corporations, John enjoyed leadership challenges with FoxMeyer Corporation (now McKesson) a leading pharmaceutical distributor, AccuRay (now ABB) and Armco, Inc. (now Cleveland Cliffs), process automation and steel manufacturing firms respectively. During this period, he became highly skilled in the areas of talent acquisition, executive search, employee relations, HR strategy and succession planning, compensation, OD, training and development and employee retention. In addition, he lectured on such subjects as professional outplacement, Assessment Center Design for employee screening, EH&S programs, employee conflict resolution/empathy, and was a member of the American Iron and Steel Institute speakers bureau.

After leaving Corporate America in his mid-30’s, John co-owned and successfully managed two executive search firms. For the past 20 years, John co-managed Markt & Markworth, LLC, a boutique retained executive search firm that conducted C-Level executive, senior management and Legal searches for organizations of all sizes, publicly and privately held, throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. Their search expertise was diverse and included functional areas and industries such as: Supply Chain Management, Attorneys/Legal, Engineering/Science/R&D, General Management, High-Tech/Nano Manufacturing, Metals Manufacturing, Consumer Products Manufacturing, IT, Finance and Accounting, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Management Consulting, and Process Improvement/Six-Sigma/ Quality.

For the last 20 years, John has been a trusted advisor for several successful private family-run manufacturing businesses going through initial start-ups, growing pains and generational transition.

Representative projects:

• John, working with a client’s retained counsel, facilitated the buyout of two of five siblings who were an impediment to the company’s future growth and diversification plans. Specifically, this was a third generation $23M dollar manufacturer and distributor of perishable food products. Using various psychometric tools and feedback sessions he successfully guided the family through a difficult self-awareness process illuminating areas of dysfunctionality. Today, they have gotten into new distribution channels and product line extensions and have ushered in a fourth generation of leadership.
• John’s executive search firm was exclusively retained by a leading global manufacturer of metrology equipment with applications in both industry and life sciences. These were highly specialized searches for software engineering and optic scientist roles requiring MS and more preferably PhD professionals. One particular prospect who surfaced was stationed in Antarctica working for a major defense contractor. He had the PhD Physics credentials the client was seeking. John interviewed him over his satellite telephone, arranged for his client to meet him when he rotated back to the US, and an offer was made on the spot. This process predated Zoom technology.
• John recently brokered a buy/sell deal for a near bankrupt $10M distributor of industrial fasteners. The buyer agreed to purchase the inventory at a reduced price, but agreed to keep the two company principals on the payroll because of their tribal knowledge. The buyer also infused much needed cash and was able to right the company, eventually rolling up into a larger enterprise doing global metal parts distribution.
• John grew up in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. He is a graduate of Miami University majoring in Personnel and Labor Relations Management, with a minor in Economics. He is a lifetime member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. John is married to Pamela Markt, a retired IT Manager for Progressive Insurance, and they reside in Shaker Heights, OH. They have two grown children and three grandchildren and enjoy global travel, golf, cooking, hiking, driving electric cars, and volunteering.

Motto: Having the right people, at the right place, at the right time, doing the right things to ensure success. Simple to comprehend….difficult to achieve.