When Damon Lee reflects on his first conversations with C.H. Robinson’s CEO, he recalls how natural the alignment felt. “We spoke the same language. We were finishing each other’s sentences,” Lee tells us. For a finance leader whose ambition had long been to step into the CFO chair, the clarity of vision he encountered at Robinson made the opportunity stand out.
Lee emphasizes that Robinson’s longevity mattered. “A company that survived and thrived for 120 years—that’s special in its own right,” he tells us. The business, rooted in logistics services, relies on people as its core differentiator. “Our people really make the difference with our customers,” he adds, underscoring why the culture resonated with him.
What sealed the decision, however, was the simplicity of the CEO’s plan. “We’re going to outgrow the market, we’re going to expand our operating margins, we’re going to do both,” Lee recounts. Complexity, in his view, often derails execution. A straightforward mandate with conviction behind it gave him confidence that transformation was possible.
The CEO, Lee notes, wanted more than a traditional finance executive. He wanted someone who could “show up like a CEO,” bring lean discipline, and act as a true partner in reshaping the company. For Lee, this aligned perfectly with the operational mindset that had guided his career.
After more than a year in the role, he reflects simply: “We’re winning in the marketplace. We’re winning in the eyes of investors. So certainly it was the right move for me, no doubt.”
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CFOTL: What was it about this opportunity that attracted you? I’m certain there was other oportunties that recruiters brought to you from time to time. And you said, No, thanks. What set this one apart?
Lee: My ambition for years has been to become a CFO, and opportunities do surface. This one was special. A company that has survived and thrived for 120 years—that’s meaningful on its own. It’s a service business with people at its core, where our teams truly make the difference for customers. We also had a new CEO with a clear, simple vision: outgrow the market and expand operating margins—do both. He wanted a CFO who “shows up like a CEO,” knows lean, drives the business, and is a true transformation partner. From our first conversations, we spoke the same language. A year in, we’re winning in the marketplace and with investors—it was the right move, no doubt.
C.H. Robinson | www.CHRobinson.com | Eden Prairie, MN