C-Suite Speaker Series

Spring 2024 C-Suite Speaker Series  Featuring Bill Christensen, CEO, JELD-WEN  Tuesday, February 13 1:15 - 2:05 p.m. Popp Martin Student Union, third floor salons

Spring 2024 C-Suite Speaker Series

Featuring Bill Christensen, CEO, JELD-WEN

Tuesday, February 13 | 1:15 - 2:05 p.m. | Popp Martin Student Union, third floor salons

Register here

About William (Bill) Christensen

Bill Christensen is the chief executive officer of JELD-WEN,  Inc., a leading global manufacturer of building products with operations in 15 countries and approximately 18,000 employees across North America and Europe. 

With more than 25 years of multinational business leadership, Bill has a proven track record in driving business and cultural transformations within the manufacturing sector. 

He joined JELD-WEN in April 2022 as executive vice president and president, Europe and was named  global CEO in December 2022. 

Before joining JELD-WEN, Bill spearheaded transformative initiatives as CEO and group executive  board chair at REHAU AG, where he architected a multi-million-dollar transformation to improve  profitability that included restructuring, selling non-core businesses, streamlining production assets  and defining strategic growth priorities. Prior to REHAU AG, Bill was the CEO of AFG Holding, a  Swiss-based global building products manufacturer. He spent a decade at Geberit International AG,  holding various executive positions, including the group executive board member and head of  international sales, and the president and CEO of The Chicago Faucets Company. Bill began his  career at J.P. Morgan Securities. 

Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rollins College and an MBA from the University of  Chicago’s Booth School of Business. He is a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council  and past board member of VELUX A/S.


About the Series

The C-Suite Speaker Series (formerly CEO Speaker Series) features alumni and friends of the college who are in leadership positions (at the level of CEO, partner, chairman, etc.). The series brings business leaders to the UNC Charlotte campus to present to and interact with undergraduate and graduate students. This series is organized several times a year by the Belk College of Business external relations team and the Niblock Student Center, which prepares graduates to enter a business career and become leaders in the workplace and the community. Through their stories, successes, and lessons, speakers of the C-Suite Speaker Series provide a transformational experience for students. 


Recent Sessions

Fall 2023 C-Suite Speaker Series

The Belk College of Business welcomed Jose Armario, CEO and President of Bojangles, for the Fall 2023 C-Suite Speaker Series on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Jose Armario has been Chief Executive Officer and President of Bojangles since January 2019. His strong and visionary leadership has led Bojangles to become a more unified, innovative, and nimble brand.

Armario has more than 40 years of senior leadership experience with such brands as Burger King, LensCrafters, and McDonald’s. He retired as executive vice president of worldwide supply chain, development, and franchising of McDonald’s Corporation in October 2015, after having held that position since August 2011. During his time with McDonald’s Corporation, Armario served in several prominent leadership positions including president of McDonald’s Chile, and group president of McDonald’s Canada and Latin America.

Armario is a director of Golden State Foods and Bojangles', Inc., a member of the President’s Council of the University of Miami, and a director for Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation. He is also a former board member with the USG Corporation, Avon Products, Inc., the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and a former director with the Council of the Americas, NY, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Latin America.

Spring 2023 C-Suite Speaker Series

The Belk College of Business welcomed Chuck Howard, CEO of Autobell Carwash, Inc. for the Spring 2023 C-Suite Speaker Series on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

Chuck Howard has been in the car wash business for more than 50 years. He is the owner of Autobell® Car Wash, Inc., along with his three children, and serves as the company’s CEO. While still a college student, Chuck worked alongside his father, Charles "Charlie" Howard Sr., as the elder founded Autobell in Charlotte in 1969. Now the largest family-owned car wash chain in the U.S., Autobell operates more than 85 locations in the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland, with consistent growth.

Chuck is a graduate of Wingate University and the University of North Carolina Charlotte. 

Fall 2022 C-Suite Speaker Series

The Belk College of Business welcomed Mike Freno, Chairman and CEO of Barings, LLC for the Fall 2022 C-Suite Speaker Series on Thursday, November 3, 2022.

Mike Freno is Chairman and CEO of Barings LLC, a $349+ billion global financial services firm with offices across the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia. Mike is also Chair of the Barings Board of Directors and a member of the MassMutual Executive Leadership Team. His experience canvasses two decades on the buy side, focusing on both equity and debt investments. Previously, Mike was President overseeing Barings’ investments, sales, operations and technology, and Chairman of the Board of Barings BDC, Inc., (NYSE: BBDC), an external business development company managed by Barings.

Mike holds a B.A. from Furman University and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University.

Spring 2022 C-Suite Speaker Series

Thursday, Feb. 17, featured Hugh McColl Jr., retired chairman and CEO of Bank of America and chairman emeritus at Falfurrias Capital Partners.

Previous Sessions

Please email belkrsvp@uncc.edu for more information on Belk College of Business events.