Paul C. Darley is Chairman, CEO & President of W.S. Darley & Co. Under his leadership, sales have increased over 800% to over $175 million in 2016. He began in pump sales in 1985 and was named Vice President for the Fire Pump Division of W.S. Darley & Co. in 1990. In 1997, he became President and COO and was appointed President & CEO in 2003. He was named Chairman in 2011.

 

Founded in 1908, W.S. Darley & Co is a fourth generation family business, led by Paul and an executive team that has transformed this 108-year-old company into a world leader in the firefighting industry and defense industry distribution and manufacturing with ISO 9001 certification and an electronic catalog of more than 10,000 items. The company has recently been awarded major Department of Defense Contracts including an $85.1 million contract with the USMC in 2012. In 2010, W.S. Darley & Co was named the Loyola University Illinois Family Business of the Year and was recognized by Marquette University as Alumnus Family Business of Year in 2009.   

 

Paul is a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago and he holds a BS Degree in Marketing and Finance from Marquette University.  He earned his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He recently earned a two year graduate certificate from the University of Illinois in Emotional Intelligence. 

 

Paul has traveled to 80 countries in his 30-year tenure, and has made over 500 industry speaking engagements. He is involved with numerous charitable, business and service organizations. He is a former Chairman of the Chicago Windy City Chapter of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), and is currently a trustee for Dominican University.   

 

He is a Past President of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association (FAMA) after serving on its board for the past 5 years. He also served on the Board of Directors of Fire & Emergency Manufacturers & Services Association (FEMSA) for seven years. Paul Darley currently serves on the Board of the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) for the Great Lakes Chapter.

 

Paul is married to his high school sweetheart for 28 years and together they are raising three daughters in Elmhurst, IL.