Chris Pesola

Energizer
DISC Type : I

Chief Information Officer at Roush

Detroit Metropolitan Area, United States

Overview

As CIO at Roush, Chris is a strategic technology leader focused on delivering measurable ROI through digital innovation and data-driven decisions. He is a frequent speaker on AI strategy, emphasizing human judgment and aligning technology with board expectations. Colleagues describe him as a bright, knowledgeable, and professional leader.

Outside of work, Chris is an avid NASCAR enthusiast who actively follows and supports RFK Racing. His posts show he keeps up with race results, driver performance, and team strategy, sharing his passion for the sport online.

He recently delivered a keynote on AI that challenged leaders to focus on the role of human judgment, control, and capacity.

Personality Overview

Informal

Believer

Relationship Oriented

They are really good at seeing what the long-term impacts of their decisions could be.  They are always positive and upbeat, so take their promises with a pinch of salt. Unlike C or D types, they are vocal with their opinions but not so much with their questions.

Topics They Care About

Human-Centric AI
In a recent keynote, he argued for prioritizing human judgment and control, urging leaders to look beyond the hype and align AI strategy with measurable business outcomes.
NASCAR Racing
He is a passionate fan who actively posts his support for RFK Racing and Roush, commenting on race performance and team strategy.
Enterprise Systems ROI
His career is defined by leveraging enterprise systems (ERP, CRM, SaaS) and cloud-based technology to deliver substantial cost-savings and measurable business value.

Media Appearances

Readying The Workforce For Industry 4.0 (EP 15) – Interview with Chris Pesola, CIO of Roush. Featured in CGS Advisors

See Now

Work History

11-2025
Chief Information Officer at Roush
6-2023 - 11-2025
Vice President at The Pond Guy
9-2022 - 6-2023
Vice President at Absorb Software
9-2016 - 9-2022
CIO/Vice President Information Technology at Plex Systems, Inc.
4-2015 - 9-2016
Senior Director Information Technology at Plex Systems, Inc.

Education

1992 - 1997
BS in Secondary Ed from Central Michigan University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 28 Location : Detroit Metropolitan Area, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : Chief Information Officer at Roush
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Insights For Selling To Chris

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Talk anecdotally about the customer experience that your product offers
  • Use adjectives like ‘amazing’, ‘coolest’, ‘unbelievable’ etc.
  • Do some small talk, ask them how things are going on their side

DONT's

  • Avoid ifs and buts, don’t talk too much about the risks etc.
  • Don’t assume a yes just because they have not said no
  • Don’t be excessively objective, be a storyteller

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Chris is

  • Relationship and rapport can play an important role, sometimes more than the other factors.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Chris

  • They will probably never say no directly, you have to make that decision yourself.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Chris move?

  • They are not the quickest decision makers, their friendly attitude could be misleading.
  • Can Chris take some risk or not?

  • They can take certain risks that are unlikely to have personal consequences.

You And Chris

Personality Compatibility


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