BROADCASTS.com

In 2021, Don McGuire received an unexpected call from ADP's HR leader, offering him the

In 2021, ADP\u2019s HR leader reached out to Don McGuire, then the company\u2019s globe-trotting EMEA

In 2021, ADP\u2019s HR leader reached out to Don McGuire, then the company\u2019s globe-trotting EMEA president, to gauge his interest in stepping into the firm\u2019s CFO role. McGuire was surprised, inasmuch as it had been nearly two decades since he had veered off the traditional finance career track. During this interim, McGuire had taken on various global leadership roles far removed from the typical CFO pathway.

However, as the former CFO of ADP Canada, McGuire was by no means an unlikely candidate. Still, the leap from being CFO of a single geography to being CFO of an entire publicly traded corporation would be significant, and McGuire\u2019s experiences along his unique previous journey served to make the unexpected offer to him only more intriguing.

As it turns out, back in 2002, while serving as CFO of ADP Canada, McGuire had come to a similar crossroads. Although his career in finance had been progressing smoothly, his curiosity about the broader business landscape had led him to consider a different direction. Encouraged by his superior, ADP Canada\u2019s president\u2014who had noticed McGuire\u2019s strong rapport with clients during joint meetings\u2014McGuire took a leap of faith, stepping out of his finance role and into a client services leadership position. Taking on this mission\u2014devoid of a \u201cC\u201d title\u2014was a calculated risk, but McGuire believed that by immersing himself in the operational side of the business, he could gain valuable insights and broaden his leadership skills. Very consequentially, this move allowed him to engage directly with clients, manage teams, and drive business outcomes in ways that traditional finance roles seldom offer.

This bold decision set McGuire on a unique career path, ultimately equipping him with the diverse experiences that would make him an ideal candidate for ADP\u2019s CFO role nearly 20 years later.