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Suzanne H. Gilbert, MBA

Suzanne H. Gilbert, MBA

Suzanne H. Gilbert, MBA, is a senior financial executive and corporate director with more than 30 years of experience in financial management, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and international business operations. Her career includes executive leadership positions with major global advertising and marketing communications organizations, including Initiative Media Worldwide, Lowe Group Worldwide, and Campbell-Ewald Worldwide. As an advisor to H.S. Grace & Company, Inc., she brings extensive experience in corporate finance, audit committee oversight, and board governance.

Professional Positions

  • Member, Board of Directors, and Chair, Audit Committee, electric vehicle company; member, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
  • Principal, SHG Consulting
  • Trustee, Fielding Graduate University; Chair, Budgeting, Finance and Audit Committee; member, Investment Committee and Information Technology Committee
  • Vice Chairman and Worldwide Chief Financial Officer, Initiative Media Worldwide
  • Executive Vice President and Worldwide Chief Financial Officer, Lowe Group Worldwide
  • Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Campbell-Ewald Worldwide
  • Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration, Clinton E. Frank Advertising

Professional Experience

Ms. Gilbert has more than 30 years of executive experience with organizations within the Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG), one of the world’s largest advertising and marketing communications holding companies.

She served for more than 15 years as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Campbell-Ewald Worldwide. She subsequently held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Lowe Group Worldwide and retired as Vice Chairman and Worldwide Chief Financial Officer of Initiative Media.

Throughout her career, Ms. Gilbert directed finance, accounting, mergers and acquisitions, human resources, legal, information technology, administration, and facilities management functions. Her experience encompasses organizations ranging from businesses with approximately $100 million in billings and 100 employees to global operations employing 9,000 people in more than 100 offices across 80 countries, with billings exceeding $21 billion.

Her corporate governance experience includes service on boards of directors and trustees, with responsibilities involving audit, finance, budgeting, investment, compensation, information technology, and nominating and governance oversight.

Ms. Gilbert has been recognized for her professional accomplishments. She received Marquette University’s College of Business Professional Achievement Alumni Award in 2000 and was named by Adweek as one of the Outstanding Financial Leaders in the United States.

Education

  • M.B.A., University of Chicago Booth School of Business
  • B.S. in Business, Marquette University

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • Financial Executives International – Member, Committee on Governance, Risk and Compliance; active in the Chicago Chapter; former President, Detroit Chapter
  • University of Detroit School of Business – Former member, Board of Advisors
  • Detroit Workforce Development Executive Board – Former Board Member
  • American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) Insurance Company – Former Board Member
  • American Association of Advertising Agencies – Former member, Fiscal Control, Investment, and Audit Committees

Publications

Ms. Gilbert has authored or co-authored articles with H.S. Grace & Company, Inc. addressing corporate governance, financial oversight, and board responsibilities, including:

  • “Monitoring Cash Flows: The Board, the CLO, and the CFO,” Business Law Today, May 2023
  • “Boeing and the Ongoing Evolution of Director Responsibilities,” Business Law Today, December 2021
  • “Stress Testing Your Corporate Governance Structure,” Business Law Today, October 2021

Additional publications are available in the H.S. Grace & Company, Inc. Articles section.