David Kohler was elected Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Kohler Co. in September 2022. He chairs the Board of Directors and Executive Committee in addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer, which includes full-scope responsibility for the three business groups of Kohler Co. (Kitchen & Bath, Power, Hospitality) and all enterprise functions.
Previously, David served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2015 to 2022. He is the fourth generation of the Kohler family to lead the company since its inception in 1873, and only the ninth person to lead the company over the last 149 years.
David started at Kohler Co. working in every manufacturing division on the front lines. He rejoined Kohler as Director – Fixtures Marketing in 1993 after working at Dayton Hudson Corporation. Since then, he has served in progressive roles including Vice President Sales, Sector President – K&B Americas, Group President – K&B Group, Executive Vice President, President and COO, and President and CEO.
David serves on the board of directors of the following five organizations: Kohler Co., Old Course Ltd, Interface Inc., Interceramic, and the Green Bay Packers. He also currently serves on the Board of Kohler Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Duke University Fuqua Center on Leadership and Ethics (COLE). David received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Duke University and his master’s degree in management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is is also an alumnus of the Voyageur Outward Bound School in Ely, Minnesota, and is a past chairman of the Young Presidents’ Organization, Intercontinental Chapter. David and his wife, Nina, have four children and live in Kohler, Wisconsin.
Of golf note, David served as the General Chairman for the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits®, the sixth major championship hosted by Kohler Co. David also served as General Chair for the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, held in 2021.