Michael Polk on Leading Implus Through the Pandemic
Taking the helm of a new company is difficult under any circumstances. Doing so as a global pandemic upends daily operations is another matter entirely, yet that is exactly the situation Michael Polk faced when he became CEO of Implus LLC in 2020, just months after stepping away from public company life.
Polk had spent decades building a career at Kraft Foods, Unilever, and Newell Brands, eventually retiring from the latter in 2019. His return to the corporate world came with Implus, a fitness accessories portfolio company owned by Berkshire Partners, and the timing meant his first months on the job coincided with COVID-19 disruptions felt across nearly every business sector.
Steadying the Ship
Rather than retreat, Polk used the moment to reshape how Implus operated. He worked to strengthen the company’s financial performance while positioning it for growth once conditions stabilized, an approach that required close coordination with his team rather than the more distant oversight typical of larger public companies.
A Different Kind of Leadership
That closeness has stayed with him well past the initial crisis. Michael Polk Newell Brands now describes spending far more time directly involved in brand and business development work than he did in his previous role, where layers of organizational structure often stood between him and the decisions being made on the ground. He has called the experience a chance to be present with his team as they work through difficult choices together, something he rarely had the chance to do at a company the size of Newell Brands.
Looking back, Polk views the pandemic years at Implus not as a setback but as the foundation for the sustainable growth the company has pursued since, a period that tested his leadership style and ultimately reshaped it for the better.
Few executives get handed a crisis on day one of a new job, but Polk has said the timing forced him to build trust with his team faster than he otherwise might have. That accelerated bond, formed under pressure, has carried into how Implus operates today, long after the initial disruption eased and the company shifted its focus toward steadier expansion. See related link for more information.
Learn more about Michael Polk on https://www.implus.com/leadership/