Running Implus looks nothing like running Newell Brands, and Michael Polk is the first to admit it. After four decades split between massive public corporations and his current role at a private equity-owned firm, Polk has plenty of material for comparison.

A Younger, Hungrier Team

One of the biggest differences Polk points to is the makeup of his workforce. “While the talent in my company is hungry and competitive, they tend to be younger and have less breadth of experience,” he says of his colleagues at Implus. That gap in experience does not bother him. Instead, Michael Polk Newell Brands treats it as a reason to stay closely involved, showing his team how he approaches problems rather than simply directing from above.

That hands-on approach marks a sharp shift from his years at companies like Kraft and Unilever, where Polk typically worked through layers of senior executives to get things done. At Implus, he says he is personally involved in marketing plans, sales strategy, and go-to-market decisions, describing the experience as a welcome return to work he enjoyed earlier in his career.

Ownership Sets a Different Pace

Beyond team dynamics, Polk credits the private ownership structure at Implus for allowing a longer-term outlook. Owners there, he explains, care more about sustained growth than quarterly results, which frees leadership to make decisions without the constant pressure that comes with public markets.

Polk’s comparison between his past and present roles points to a broader truth about leadership: the size and structure of a company change what a CEO does every day, even when the ultimate goals stay the same. For Michael Polk, that shift has meant trading boardroom distance for daily involvement, a trade he seems more than happy to have made, and one that has left him more energized about his work than he had expected to feel this deep into his career. Visit this page on LinkedIn, for more information.

Learn more about Michael Polk on https://www.ceotodaymagazine.com/2025/01/former-newell-brands-ceo-michael-polk-alchemized-challenges-into-career-wins/