Tom Kereszti Email & Phone Number

We founded Culture Force with a clear mission: to help international organizations and C-suite executives shape intentional, values-driven cultures and build the future leaders of their organizations.Why? Because too many people in the workforce are unhappy. Despite companies spending nearly $50 billion annually on leadership development, research consistently shows that nearly 80% of employees quit due to poor leadership—not money (which ranks only #7 on the list of reasons for leaving). The real issue? People leave because they don’t feel valued.Culture based on shared values is the cornerstone of a successful organization. Make no mistake, all companies have a culture. The question to ask, is the culture intentional and with purpose lived throughout the organization or is it a default culture that evolved organically? So, what exactly is Culture Force’s secret sauce?Tom & Kyle met in San Diego after Kyles distinguished service in the Navy SEALs, where he retired as a senior chief. Tom, on the other hand, had a long career as a Fortune 500 international C-suite executive. Despite their different battlefields, Kyle and Tom found that their leadership philosophies were remarkably aligned. As authors—Kyle of "Leadership is Overrated" and Tom of "C-Suite and Beyond"—they have distilled these principles into actionable insights.Culture Force is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Our approach begins with a strategic assessment, followed by a tailored mix of workshops, masterminds, coaching, and other solutions, including our cutting-edge culture performance AI technology. Additionally, we host C-suite executive retreats, and our customers consistently praise our impactful keynotes.So, let me ask you: Is your company part of the 80% where people leave due to poor leadership, or the 20% where employees thrive?Are you ready to build empowered, self-led teams and transform your organization's culture? Contact me today to discover how.

Duluth , Georgia , Us

I met John Maxwell in 2004 during his book signing of Today Matters, forming a lasting friendship and mentorship. As a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member, I became a keynote speaker, strategic advisor, trainer and executive mentor. I am passionate about mentoring leaders and transforming organizations. My leadership philosophy is grounded in servant leadership principles, rooted in time-proven, biblically based values. I am also a DISC-certified consultant and a local host for the Live2Lead leadership conference each year.Early in my career, I did not receive formal leadership training and believed leadership was about individual success. However, midway through my journey, I experienced a major shift, realizing true leadership was about empowering teams to share a common vision, build trust, and achieve collective goals. I became a dedicated student of the science of leadership, with a specific focus on servant leadership.Now, I share my wealth of leadership knowledge through keynote addresses and workshops for audiences across South Africa, Singapore, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the United States. I also serve as a strategic advisor and mentor, helping c-suite executive teams achieve the next level of business growth.After retiring from my corporate career, I captured my lifetime journey and authored the best-selling book C-Suite and Beyond: The Four Keys to Leadership Success, drawing from my extensive experiences around the globe. The book is packed with insightful stories of success and failure from my life and career as an international executive, husband, and father. These keys have guided countless individuals and organizations to new heights. Most successful organizations share these foundational principles.Contact me to develop your leadership strategy and to help you on your journey to becoming a successful leader.

Author of C-Suite and Beyond, the 4 keys to leadership success. Frequent international podcast guest and leadership authority. Strategic Advisor & Mentor at Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program to 40+ technology startup companies in the areas of leadership, vision, strategy, business development, sales, marketing, and other critical areas.Accomplishments in strategic areas:• Transformed people into leaders through inspiring, mentoring, coaching, training, team building & empowering.• Established global alliances, market & business development.• Negotiated, acquired, and merged companies. Formed joint ventures.• Created brands through market research, consumer insight and product development.• Achieved consumer and trade product preference through sales & marketing.• Restructured stagnating non-profitable companies to lucrative status. Led successful startup of new companies.• Developed company vision, strategy, plans, and controlled regional & country business activities.• Managed P&L and BAL sheet up to $350M in competitive and high growth market environments.• Led successful global corporate initiatives with business technology and as an internal company consultant.• Attained business success for companies in North and Latin America, Europe and Middle East.Contact Me tom@kereszti.com I am looking forward to assisting you on your journey to becoming a successful leader.

Torino, Piemonte, It

The premier independent Italian Espresso & coffee distributor for offices, hotels, restaurants show rooms & salons. With powerful, globally recognized brands and complete range of espresso, coffee, tea, and cocoa more than 1000 customers enjoy our products each day. A full service provider of equipment, coffee & related products, technical service and training. Customers benefit from our expertise in the single-serve espresso & coffee market segments as well as traditional bulk brewing systems. Created a vision and developed a long-term strategic business plan including securing distribution rights. Formed alliances necessary to support business growth. With powerful, globally recognized brands Lavazza, Segafredo, Chock Full O'Nuts, Mighty Leaf, & Ghirardelli and complete range of espresso, coffee, tea, and cocoa more than 1000 customers enjoy our products each day. Implemented sales & marketing initiatives and attained compounded annual sales growth rate of 28% through first 8 years.

Petach Tikva, Il

Based in Israel, this $1B FMCG foods company controlled by the Strauss family has JV’s with Danone, Unilever & Pepsi.As CEO of Elite International located in the Netherlands, created a vision and developed strategic business plan for all international operations of the StraussElite group. Elite International is a leading branded coffee & coffee related products and services company primarily in the emerging markets of Central & Eastern Europe and Latin America. Achieved +20% compounded annual sales growth to $250M+ through product development and an exclusive distribution alliance with LAVAZZA. Restructured the company and established an international management team to implement best practices in the FMCG industry eliminating -$1M in operating losses. Implemented company wide people mentoring / training for 2000+ employees across commercial & manufacturing operations in 12+ countries.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:Established global alliances, market & business development.• Negotiated, acquired, merged companies. Formed joint ventures.• Created Brands through market research, consumer insight and product development.• Restructured stagnating non-profitable companies to lucrative status.• Led successful startup of new companies.• Mentored people development, training, and team building.• Achieved consumer & trade product preference through sales & marketing. • Managed relationships among board, investors and stake holders.• Planned, budgeted, and controlled regional & country business activities.• Demonstrated P&L responsibility in competitive and high growth market environments.• Adopted business technology and acted as an internal company consultant. • Led successful global corporate initiatives.

Slough, Berkshire, Gb

Through the global merger of Reckitt&Colman and Benckiser, ReckittBenckiser is Fortune 500 and the world’s largest household cleaning company, operates in 100+ countries and is leader in several niche product categories. Director – Global Business Improvements – Corporate HQ UKReporting to the CEO & EVP of Information Systems, managed the $5+B global merger process of ReckittBenckiser enabling independent professional teams to establish new business processes in commercial, operational & back office competencies. Identified technologies to track merger synergies, merger costs and growth opportunities. Established processes to capture new business models aligned with the merged companies needs. Benchmarked global business processes to world class standards & integrated improvements. Piloted new technology to support new business processes. Identified internal process needs to meet B2B & B2C e-business opportunities.

Slough, Berkshire, Gb

Benckiser is a top 10 global household cleaning company, operating in Europe and North America and is a leader in several niche product categories. General Manager - Mexico Reporting to the V.P. of Americas, led Benckiser’s first Latin American and first new market entry as a public company. Developed a 5 year strategic business plan with expected revenues of over $100M. Established the best selling premium cleaner in Mexico, with leading share of voice in TV media. Identified acquisition candidate & led initial due diligence for board approval. Developed world wide fabric softener strategies as a key member of the Global Marketing Team.

Slough, Berkshire, Gb

Through the global merger of Reckitt&Colman and Benckiser, ReckittBenckiser is the world’s largest household cleaning company, operates in 100+ countries and is leader in several niche product categories. General Manager - Czech & Slovak Republics Reporting to the V.P. of Eastern Europe, turned around Benckiser’s stagnating and non-profitable local subsidiary to lucrative status. Generated cumulative net sales growth of 135% to over $40m and profit growth of +200% while reducing net working capital by 4% and minimized exposure of multiple currencies.. Reversed declining market shares in mature market segments and achieved market dominance in specialty high profit product categories. Developed the local team of 100+, eventually promoting 5 managers to international positions. Defined regional strategies as member of the Eastern European Management Team.

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nl

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS COMPANYRoyal Philips Electronics is eighth on Fortune's list of global top 30 electronics corporations. Philips is active in about 60 businesses, varying from consumer electronics to domestic appliances, and from security systems to semiconductors.General Manager - Consumer Products - Hungary Reporting to the CEO of Philips Hungary, restructured and aligned with the local market, the consumer electronics & domestic appliances division of Philips Electronics Hungarian subsidiary. Attained market leadership in numerous market segments resulting in year on year net sales growth of 161%.

New York, New York, Us

COLGATE PALMOLIVE COMPANYColgate-Palmolive is a Fortune 500 consumer products powerhouse, operates in over 200 world markets and is leader in Oral Care, Personal Care, Household Surface Care, Fabric Care and Pet Nutrition categories.Deputy General Manager - HungaryLed successful startup of a new company in Hungary, Colgate Palmolive's lead country in the Eastern European Division. In three years, attained leadership shares in selected segments of the oral, body and surface cleaning categories and achieve sales growth from a zero base to $12+M. Identified and acquired the local Fabulon company, to position Colgate Palmolive as the number 2 body care company in Hungary. Corporate & Subsidiary Management Positions – USAVarious managerial positions of increasing responsibility in all critical commercial and operational competencies with strategic and tactical implications. Located in New York corporate headquarters & different geographies.

Wharton Fellows, International Business

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Bachelor’S Degree