2014 – Demby, Claude Z.

October 23, 2014

Claude Z. Demby

The pursuit of an ever-higher mark and drive for excellence are traits that Mr. Demby has brought with him to every employer and to every professional challenge in his career. Known for being a transformational leader linking the power of talent, culture and innovation with the spirit of entrepreneurialism, his history of success in turning around and growing companies on a global is extensive.

At L&L Products, a manufacturer with operations and technical and sales offices in 14 countries spanning four continents, in his role as president and COO, Mr. Demby was a visionary and a driving force for the fastest revenue and growth period in the company’s 50-year history, helping grow revenue more than 100% while concurrently raising profit margins to 300% that of the industry benchmark.

More recently, as the president and CEO of Noël Group, an international group of manufacturing businesses employing people in locations across the U.S., China, and Europe, his change leadership and contributions continued. Mr. Demby took the company through a 180-degree turnaround. Faced with a failing business that was in complete disarray, saddled with untenable debt and increasing financial losses, he pulled the company back from the edge of bankruptcy and transformed it into a growing, vibrant, healthy company well poised for continued profitable growth in the future.

Mr. Demby began his career as a process engineer with Proctor & Gamble and as a production manager with GE Plastics where he quickly distinguished himself as a leader when he gained buy-in from GE Company’s CEO for some major capital investment projects—projects that once implemented saved the company $1.5 million per year. Mr. Demby holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and an M.B. A. degree in Rensselaer Polytechnic University.

Deeply respected in both the business and local community, Mr. Demby currently serves as the Chair-Elect for the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and is Chairman of the Board for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond—Charlotte Branch. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Duke-Raleigh Hospital.

Striving consciously to make a positive difference in the lives of the people he touches, and with a passion for learning and education, Mr. Demby and his wife are co-founders of Valour Academy, a private school that seeks to enfranchise a population of young men who otherwise have a less than 50% graduation rate from local public schools. Mr. Demby also embraces opportunities to apply his talents for speaking, teaching, leading, and motivating and has presented to audiences of young people as well as business people on the topics of “The 5 Secrets to Living an Extraordinary Life” and “The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People.”

Parents of five children, the youngest now in college, Claude Demby and his wife of more than 25 years currently live in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Demby encourages connections through LinkedIn (www.linkedin/in/claudedemby) and can be reached at 248-495-3330 or by email claude@claudedemby.com.