Strategic Advisory Council
Rob Johnson
Rehlko Board Member Operating Partner, G2VP Former CEO, Vertiv
Rob is a visionary leader and entrepreneur with a proven track record of driving transformation through strategic planning, high-performance team building, and operational excellence. He is known for delivering impactful change and sustainable growth across complex global organizations.
Rob joined Vertiv, a Platinum Equity company and former Emerson spin-off, as Chief Executive Officer in December 2016. Reporting to the Board of Directors, he has led the 20,000-person company through a series of strategic divestitures, acquisitions, and ultimately, a successful public offering.
Prior to Vertiv, Rob served as an Operating Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers from 2014 to 2016, where he supported portfolio companies in scaling operations and executing growth strategies. Earlier in his career, he held executive roles at Consolidated Container Corporation, a packaging solutions provider, and A123 Systems, a leader in lithium-ion battery technology.
In 1989, Rob founded Systems Enhancement Corporation, a pioneer in software and hardware solutions for the data center industry. After selling the company to American Power Conversion (APC) in 1997, he became General Manager and later CEO of APC. Under his leadership, APC was sold to Schneider Electric for $6.1 billion in 2007.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Science and an honorary doctorate in Engineering Management from Missouri University of Science and Technology. He has served on multiple corporate boards and is the co-author of Executing Your Business Transformation (2010), a practical guide for companies navigating strategic change.
