Our Leadership

Eric Ashleman is a member of the board and chief executive officer of IDEX Corporation. Eric became chief executive officer of IDEX Corporation in December 2020 after becoming president in February 2020. He was previously chief operating officer beginning in 2015.

He has been integral to the company’s success, including his role in developing the company’s distinct culture, business model and strategy. He joined IDEX in 2008 as the president of Gast Manufacturing, an operating unit that produces high-quality, niche pneumatics. In 2010, he added responsibilities for Global Dispensing, the leading provider of automated color tinting solutions within the architectural coatings market. He received his first group executive role in 2012, with a collection of six companies from within two IDEX reporting segments.

In the next few years, Eric and his teams developed and piloted the elements of the IDEX Operating Model and began work with 8020, an approach to business that focuses on the vital few variables that drive the greatest degree of impact. In 2014, he expanded his group executive scope into the IDEX Health & Science and Optics businesses. Eric is passionate about developing high-performing global teams and talent. Many of IDEX’s current senior operating leaders were identified as emerging leaders within his group.

Prior to joining IDEX, he served as the president of Schutt Sports, the market leader for protective equipment in American football. The company introduced breakthrough helmet technology during his tenure, capturing share at all levels of competition. Prior to Schutt, Eric led teams within operations and general management at three business units of Danaher Corporation. It was here, in tough turnaround situations, that he developed the ability to focus teams around the critical few business levers to drive quick momentum and progress. Prior to Danaher, he worked within scalable operations roles at AlliedSignal/Honeywell. He began his career within manufacturing at Lincoln Brass Works.

Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He has a passion for history and literature, and he is a lifelong, practicing musician who spends much of his free time playing and recording. Eric and his wife live in the Chicago area, where they enjoy travel, the arts, and a seemingly endless loop of home maintenance and rehabilitation of their 1920’s-era home. They have four grown children.

Eric is also a director of Modine Manufacturing Co. and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI).

Mark A. Beck served as President and Chief Executive Officer of JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (JELD-WEN), one of the world’s largest door and window manufacturers, from November 2015 to February 2018, and was a director of JELD-WEN from May 2016 to February 2018.

Prior to JELD-WEN, Mr. Beck served as an Executive Vice President at Danaher Corporation, leading Danaher’s water quality and dental platforms, beginning in April 2014. Before that, he spent 18 years with Corning Incorporated in a series of management positions, culminating in his appointment as Executive Vice President overseeing Corning’s environmental technologies and life science units in July 2012.

Mr. Beck received a bachelor of arts degree in business management from Pacific University and a master of business administration degree from Harvard University. Mr. Beck is a director of Owens & Minor Inc.

Mark Buthman retired from Kimberly-Clark Corporation in January 2016 after 33 years of service. He served as senior vice president and the chief financial officer for the company from January of 2003 through April of 2015.

As chief financial officer, Mr. Buthman’s scope of responsibility included finance and investor relations, real estate, global procurement, shared services, and information technology services. Mr. Buthman joined Kimberly – Clark in 1982 and over his career he held a wide range of leadership roles in financial analysis and business support, mergers and acquisitions, and operations management. Mr. Buthman holds a bachelor of arts in finance from the University of Iowa and is also a director of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

Alejandro Quiroz Centeno serves as CEO Latin America for Prysmian Group, a global leader in the energy and telecommunications cable systems industry. Prior to joining Prysmian Group, Mr. Quiroz served as President, Aptiv Latin America, leading a $5.5 billion automotive technology business with 75,000 employees and 40 locations in Mexico, Central and South America. His previous experience includes leadership roles in various countries at automotive suppliers Tenneco Inc in EMEA, Edscha Aktiengesellschaft in USA and Continental Aktiengesellschaft in Asia, as well as home appliance manufacturer Whirlpool Corporation.

Mr. Quiroz holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad de las Americas-Puebla. He is a member of the US-Mexico Foundation and the Latino Corporate Directors Association.

Carl R. Christenson served as Chairman and CEO of Altra Industrial Motion Corp. (“Altra”), a leading global designer, producer and marketer of a wide range of electromechanical power transmission motion control products, from April 2014 until his retirement in March 2023. Prior to that, Mr. Christenson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Altra from from January 2009 to April 2014, after serving as President and COO from January 2005 to December 2008. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Christenson was President of Kaydon Bearings, a manufacturer of custom-engineered bearings and a division of Kaydon Corporation.

Prior to joining Kaydon, Mr. Christenson held several management positions at TB Wood’s Incorporated and several positions at the Torrington Company. Mr. Christenson holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and an M.B.A. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Lakecia N. Gunter serves as Chief Technology Officer for the Global Partner Solutions Team at Microsoft Corporation. Prior to this role, and beginning in May 2022, she served as Vice President and General Manager of the Device Partner Solution Sales Group, after joining Microsoft in May 2020 as Vice President and General Manager of IoT Global and Strategic Engagement.

Before joining Microsoft, Ms. Gunter served as Vice President of the Programmable Solutions Group and General Manager of Ecosystem Development and Operations at Intel Corporation. While at Intel, she served in several leadership roles, including Chief of Staff and Technical Assistant to the CEO. Ms. Gunter earned her bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of South Florida and her master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Katrina Helmkamp served as chief executive officer of Cartus Corporation, the relocation services subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate, from 2018 until her retirement in January 2023. Previously, Ms. Helmkamp served as chief executive officer of Lenox Corporation from November 2016 to June 2018, and prior to that, Ms. Helmkamp served as the chief executive officer of SVP Worldwide from 2010 through 2014, and as senior vice president, North America Product for Whirlpool Corporation from 2008 to 2010.

Ms. Helmkamp has significant experience overseeing new product development and technology initiatives. In addition, she is highly knowledgeable in managing the operations and profitability of global businesses that derive a substantial portion of their revenues from outside of the United States. Ms. Helmkamp received a bachelor of science in industrial engineering and a master of business administration from Northwestern University. She serves as an independent director of Federal Signal Corporation and of KPMG LLC.

David Parry served as vice chairman of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) from 2010 until his retirement in April of 2017. Prior to that, he served as the executive vice president of ITW with responsibility for the Polymers and Fluids Group. During 18 years of executive and management experience in various senior management positions at ITW, Mr. Parry successfully grew the operations and profitability of multiple businesses and helped ITW complete numerous acquisitions. He received a bachelor of science in chemistry, a master of science in chemistry, and a doctor of philosophy (PhD) in polymer chemistry from Victoria University of Manchester in Manchester, England.

Livingston Satterthwaite has served as president of Cummins Distribution Business, a unit of Cummins, Inc., since April of 2015. Since joining Cummins in 1988, Mr. Satterthwaite has held various positions of increasing importance, including managerial and sales positions in the United Kingdom and Singapore, where he developed business leadership, sales skills, international experience, and extensive knowledge of industrial manufacturing. Mr. Satterthwaite received a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Cornell University and a masters of business administration from Stanford University.

Paris Watts-Stanfield serves as Chief Procurement Officer of Alcon, Inc., a global leader in eyecare, dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, after having served as Chief Financial Officer, International, of Alcon from April 2022 to March 2024. She was elected to the IDEX Board of Directors in 2022 based on her extensive experience in finance and audit matters, significant experience within global business leadership and strong background in business development.

Prior to joining Alcon, Paris spent five years with Medtronic, Inc., most recently as CFO of Medtronic, Greater China. Prior to that role, Paris served as Medtronic’s Chief Audit Executive with Finance, SOX PMO, Data Analytics and IT audit oversight responsibility. Paris also spent time with Alcoa and Wal-Mart in roles in Audit and Finance and Strategy.

Paris spent her early career at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where she rotated through several finance and accounting roles with increasing responsibility. She was Finance Director for P&G’s Internal Audit Group in Asia, CFO for P&G’s hair care business in Japan and South Korea, and CFO for its household cleaning products business in North America. Paris’ other experiences include several roles in Financial Planning, Forecasting, Manufacturing, and Sales.

A passionate community advocate, Paris serves on the Board of Feeding America. She holds an MBA in Finance, Organizations & Markets from the University of Rochester, Simon School of Management, and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the State University of New York.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary

Lisa joined IDEX in October 2016 and has served as General Counsel and a member of the senior leadership team since February 2022. In her current role, she oversees the company’s legal, compliance and corporate governance functions.

Before becoming General Counsel, Lisa had responsibility for all commercial and corporate legal matters, intellectual property matters and commercial litigation for IDEX. In that role, she used her varied legal experience, combined with her prior business background, to partner with the company’s business units around the world to achieve strategic objectives and manage enterprise risk.

Lisa began her career by serving in various management positions at industrial supply distributor McMaster-Carr Supply Company. After earning her law degree, Lisa practiced commercial litigation at the Chicago-based law firm of Schiff Hardin LLP. She then joined SunCoke Energy, where she gained significant in-house experience in roles of increasing responsibility, including as commercial and litigation counsel and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer.

Lisa graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, German Languages and Literature and holds a law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. She supports the HEAR Scholarship Foundation by mentoring first-generation college students in the Chicagoland area. Lisa is an avid traveler and particularly enjoys mountain destinations at any time of year. She lives with her husband in the suburbs of Chicago.

Chief Executive Officer and President

Eric Ashleman is a member of the board and chief executive officer of IDEX Corporation. Eric became chief executive officer of IDEX Corporation in December 2020 after becoming president in February 2020. He was previously chief operating officer beginning in 2015.

He has been integral to the company’s success, including his role in developing the company’s distinct culture, business model and strategy. He joined IDEX in 2008 as the president of Gast Manufacturing, an operating unit that produces high-quality, niche pneumatics. In 2010, he added responsibilities for Global Dispensing, the leading provider of automated color tinting solutions within the architectural coatings market. He received his first group executive role in 2012, with a collection of six companies from within two IDEX reporting segments.

In the next few years, Eric and his teams developed and piloted the elements of the IDEX Operating Model and began work with 8020, an approach to business that focuses on the vital few variables that drive the greatest degree of impact. In 2014, he expanded his group executive scope into the IDEX Health & Science and Optics businesses. Eric is passionate about developing high-performing global teams and talent. Many of IDEX’s current senior operating leaders were identified as emerging leaders within his group.

Prior to joining IDEX, he served as the president of Schutt Sports, the market leader for protective equipment in American football. The company introduced breakthrough helmet technology during his tenure, capturing share at all levels of competition. Prior to Schutt, Eric led teams within operations and general management at three business units of Danaher Corporation. It was here, in tough turnaround situations, that he developed the ability to focus teams around the critical few business levers to drive quick momentum and progress. Prior to Danaher, he worked within scalable operations roles at AlliedSignal/Honeywell. He began his career within manufacturing at Lincoln Brass Works.

Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He has a passion for history and literature, and he is a lifelong, practicing musician who spends much of his free time playing and recording. Eric and his wife live in the Chicago area, where they enjoy travel, the arts, and a seemingly endless loop of home maintenance and rehabilitation of their 1920’s-era home. They have four grown children.

Eric is also a director of Modine Manufacturing Co. and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI).

Associate General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

As Chief Compliance Officer, Eric is responsible for ensuring that the company engages in ethical and compliant business practices around the globe. Guided by the IDEX values of Trust, Team, and Excellence, he leads the internal processes for promoting and ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and company policies, including the IDEX Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Eric joined IDEX in 2017 as Senior Counsel, Compliance, Privacy & Anti-Corruption. He then held roles of increasing responsibility with respect to the company’s global trade, anti-corruption and corporate compliance programs. Prior to joining IDEX, Eric served in the White-Collar Litigation practice group at the law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP.

Before entering private practice, Eric served in several positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as Trial Attorney with the Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations, as Trial Attorney with the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, where he focused on combatting large-scale foreign corruption, and as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. Eric earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor from the Marquette University Law School. He lives in the Milwaukee area with his wife and their three children. To contact Mr. Berg, please email eberg@idexcorp.com.

Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Melissa was named Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) in February 2021 and leads the global human resources function for more than 7,000 IDEX employees worldwide.

In more than a decade with the company, Melissa has been instrumental at shaping the culture of IDEX and forming the company’s approach to talent and teams. She helped IDEX evolve the Human Resources function within its decentralized structure, which supports and empowers business unit leadership teams to manage their local operations to best serve their people and customers. She helped develop the IDEX Values of Trust, Team and Excellence, and was a driving force behind the introduction of simple and impactful global talent processes aimed at elevating the performance of our organization. She also spearheaded the IDEX Academy for professional and team development, embedding learning as a key component of our culture.

Before joining the company’s senior leadership team, Melissa held a variety of HR leadership roles across IDEX, including leading several enterprise-wide processes and initiatives, most recently as Vice President of Global Talent. She previously served as a Group VP of HR for the dosing & water businesses (iPEK, ADS, Knight, Trebor, OBL, Pulsafeeder EPO and SPO), Global Dispensing, our valve businesses (Richter, Aegis and Alfa Valvole), and Micropump. Prior to IDEX, she worked in talent acquisition as a Senior Recruiter, Team Leader and Client Relationship Manager.

Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Human Resources, from University of Wisconsin – Parkside. She is an avid animal lover who lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and their three rescue dogs. ​

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Abhi rejoined IDEX in November 2023 in the role of Chief Financial Officer after previously serving IDEX from 2010 to early 2020 in financial roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President of Finance Operations, Treasury, and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A).

His return to IDEX began after he served as Chief Financial Officer of Multi-Color Corporation and, prior to that, as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for CIRCOR International. Prior to his initial service with IDEX, Abhi held a range of financial leadership positions at Stanley Black & Decker and General Electric.

Abhi is known as trusted business partner, passionate about developing talented people and building high-performing teams. He has a deep understanding of IDEX, including the company’s structure, culture, and the solutions it provides to make the world better every day. He serves as a partner to help our teams grow and scale.

Abhi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University. He lives in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two sons. He is an avid golfer, a lover of travel and of creating memorable experiences. Most important to him is the joy in the relationships he builds and maintains with the people he meets along the way from all walks of life.

Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

Allison joined IDEX in 2021 and currently serves as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, responsible for the leadership, development and execution of IDEX’s global accounting function, corporate FP&A and Investor Relations.

Allison joined IDEX from SunCoke Energy, Inc. where she was most recently the Interim SVP, Chief Financial Officer and Controller. Allison joined SunCoke Energy in 2011 as the Manager of SEC Reporting and quickly took on roles of escalating responsibility leading to becoming the Chief Accounting Officer in 2014. At SunCoke Energy, Allison had progressive growth and expansion of responsibilities in her tenure there gaining experience leading Accounting, FP&A, Tax and Treasury functions.

Prior to joining SunCoke Energy, Allison worked for KPMG from 2002 to 2011, leaving as a Senior Audit Manager. At KPMG, Allison developed an extensive business and accounting background by leading integrated audits for large global public and private companies primarily in the manufacturing, distribution, pharmaceutical and consumer products industries.

Allison has a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Master of Accounting Science and MBA from Northern Illinois University and is a Certified Public Accountant. She serves on the Audit, Compliance and Risk Management Committee for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and also the Accountancy Executive Advisory Council at Northern Illinois University. She loves traveling and experiencing different cultures and foods. Allison lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband and three children.

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

Troy joined IDEX in July 2021 as the company’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Officer, responsible for helping embed DE&I deeper into the company culture. He reports directly to IDEX CEO and President Eric Ashleman.

Troy helps build inclusive leadership and cultural competence in all IDEX people through training, education, and coaching. He supports making sure systems help mitigate bias and provide more equitable opportunities for everyone to reach their full potential. His efforts include increasing representation in the workforce to align with where IDEX does business, enhancing supplier diversity programs, and guiding the company’s growing Employee Resource Groups.

Troy joined IDEX from Chicago-based U.S. Cellular, the fourth largest cellular communications carrier in the United States, where he served as the Head of Diversity & Inclusion. At U.S. Cellular he increased diversity of the workforce – particularly in leadership – and led campaigns to increase awareness of bias in the workplace and in hiring, helping build a culture of inclusive leadership. His previous Human Resources experiences have included roles at Ingredion Inc., Pactiv, Johnson Controls, Abbott Laboratories, Sara Lee Corporation and United Airlines.

Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Troy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, followed by a Master of Arts in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. He began his career as a high school social worker and an education consultant in the Office of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Chicago. His Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work today ties back to those early education roles, through which Troy was a champion for people seeking to overcome barriers and achieve a better life.

Troy and his wife live in suburban Chicago with their two daughters. He enjoys writing music, playing piano, and singing.

Group President, Emerging Markets

Rajesh was appointed president, Emerging Markets in October 2016. In this role, he focuses on fostering a values-based culture, developing individual talent and teams, and building IDEX’s capabilities in emerging markets to win locally for our customers.

Previously, he served as vice president and managing director of IDEX India, starting in September 2009. While there, he helped build the company’s first Greenfield project in India in 2011, developing our team, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over 30%, and doubling our manufacturing footprint in India. He established the IDEX India Academy to promote talent development and long-term growth in that country.

Rajesh joined IDEX in 1998 in our Warren Rupp business unit as regional manager responsible for India and the Middle East region. In 2001 he was promoted to director, marketing and customer service for Asia Commercial Organization (ACO), where he helped establish our first IDEX integrated commercial offices in Shanghai and Mumbai in 2002 and oversaw a growth rate of over 20%. He held several other positions at IDEX, including director of sales and marketing for the South Asia and Middle East region of ACO, where he helped grow the business by 45% CAGR and set up IDEX Middle East in Dubai. Rajesh also served as managing director, Asia and Middle East, for our Fuels and Sanitary segments.

He is chairperson of the IDEX India Foundation, which supports children in the local village by contributing to their all-round development, improving infrastructure, and building a new school building. The Foundation is also engaged in skill development for women in the neighboring villages to help them gain jobs and improve their earning potential.

Rajesh received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics from Mumbai University and an MBA from the University of Liverpool. He lives in Mumbai and enjoys reading, listening to music and taking long nature walks.

Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development

Roopa was named Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development in March 2022 and is responsible for leading the company’s enterprise strategy and corporate development (M&A) function. In partnership with the IDEX Senior Leadership Team, strategy and business development resources and business unit general managers, Ms. Unnikrishnan helps identify, evaluate, and pursue growth opportunities and prioritize investments. Together they identify and build growth funnels organically and inorganically.

Roopa has more than 20 years of corporate strategy experience across a variety of industries, through a mix of consulting roles and corporate leadership positions. Before IDEX, she served as Chief Strategy Officer for Vontier, a global industrial manufacturing company focused on smarter transportation and mobility. Previous strategy positions have included roles with Harman International, Citi, BlackRock, and Katzenbach Partners – which was formed by past members of McKinsey & Co. consulting. At Pfizer she also stepped outside her traditional strategy and innovation roles to lead the Talent and Organization capability for the pharmaceutical division. She often serves as a professional coach and is the author of the book, “The Career Catapult.”

She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in India, where she was born and raised, before becoming the country’s 100th Rhodes Scholar, earning her the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford in England. There she earned a master’s degree in Economic and Social History. She followed that with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and International Business Strategy, also from University of Oxford.

Most intriguing may be that Roopa is an international champion in sports rifle shooting. She won India’s highest sporting prize, the Arjuna Award, in 1999 and won a gold medal in women’s prone sport rifle at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She still owns several records at the South Asian level and was captain of the Women’s Shooting Team at Oxford.

Roopa lives in New York City with her husband. They have college-age twins. When not reading a white paper or novel, Roopa dabbles in some mystery writing of her own, and loves her morning swim.