The Road to Success: From Engineering Student to Executive

Join us for a discussion with U-M Mechanical Engineering alumnus and Methode Electronics President & CEO, Jon DeGaynor! Jon will be joined by Methode Chief Human Resources Officer Karen Keegans and Methode Senior Vice President, Global Automotive Business, Lars Ullrich. Learn aboout career paths, industry, and more!

Methode Electronics is a leading global supplier of custom-engineered solutions with sales, engineering, and manufacturing locations in North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.

Food will be provided to registered attendees and is capped due to space limitations. Drop-ins will be welcome as space allows, but attendees should register here.

Methode Electronics – Executive Biographies

Jon DeGaynor – President and CEO

Jon DeGaynor is the President and CEO of Methode Electronics, Inc., a leading global supplier of custom-engineered solutions with sales, engineering and manufacturing locations in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Prior to joining Methode, Jon served as President and CEO of Stoneridge, Inc., a publicly traded global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic systems, components, and modules for the automotive, commercial, off-highway and agricultural vehicle markets, from 2015 to 2023. Prior to joining Stoneridge, he was Vice President of Strategic Planning and Innovation at Guardian Industries Corp. (“Guardian”), a manufacturer of industrial glass and other building products for commercial, residential and automotive applications.

From 2008 to 2014, Jon served as Vice President of Business Development and Managing Director of Asia for SRG Global, Inc., a Guardian company and manufacturer of chrome plated parts for the automotive, commercial truck and consumer goods industries. From 2005 to 2008, he was the Chief Operating Officer, International for Autocam Corporation, a manufacturer of precision‐machine components for the automotive industry.

Jon received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves as non-employee Executive Chairman of Racing and Performance, Inc., an automotive performance systems supplier in the aftermarket space. He has a lifelong passion for high performance automobiles and is an avid racer.

Karen Keegans – Chief Human Resources Officer

Karen Keegans is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Methode Electronics, Inc., a leading global supplier of custom-engineered solutions with sales, engineering and manufacturing locations in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Karen is a seasoned HR professional whose career has spanned over 30 years, mainly with technology and industrial companies whose workforce included large populations of mechanical, electrical, software, and chemical engineers. She’s held the position of CHRO at Rockwell Automation, Pentair, and Praxair.

Lars Ullrich – Senior Vice President, Global Automotive Business

Lars Ullrich is SVP, Global Automotive Business at Methode Electronics, Inc., a leading global supplier of custom-engineered solutions with sales, engineering and manufacturing locations in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Prior to Methode, Lars held the position of Head of Region Americas and Chief Business Officer for Larsen and Toubro Semiconductor Technologies since February 2024. Prior to joining Larsen and Toubro, Lars had been Vice President and then Senior Vice President at Infineon Technologies Americas from 2019 until 2024 mainly in Automotive Division Americas. He previously held manager, director, and vice president positions at Robert Bosch from 2000 to 2019 in various regions as well as functions including marketing, executive chief of staff, and product management. He holds an aeronautical engineering degree from the University of Applied Science, Aachen.

Outside of his professional work, Lars enjoys cooking and experimenting with new recipes. An avid mountain biker, he often explores scenic routes in his free time. Lars also has a passion for aviation and enjoys flying private planes. He stays active through running, whether around his neighborhood or participating in fun races with his sister and daughter.