Full Name
Paul Darley
Job Title
President & CEO
Company
W.S. Darley & Co.
Speaker Bio
Paul C. Darley is Chairman, CEO & President of W.S. Darley & Co. In 1997, he became President and COO and was appointed CEO in 2003. He was named Chairman in 2011. Under his leadership, sales have increased over 5000% to over $1.1 billion in 2024. He began in pump sales in 1985 and was named Vice President for the Fire Pump Division of Darley in 1990.
Founded in 1908, W.S. Darley & Co is a fourth-generation family business, led by Paul and an executive team that has transformed this 117-year-old company into a world leader in the firefighting and defense industries.
Paul is a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, and he holds a BS Degree in Marketing and Finance from Marquette University. He earned his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where he is a guest lecturer and an executive-in-residence in the John Ward Family Business Center.
Paul has traveled to 85 countries in his 40-year tenure and has made over 500 industry speaking engagements. He serves on numerous boards and is involved with charitable business and service organizations. He is a former Chairman of the Chicago Windy City Chapter of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He was selected as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) Small business Executive of the Year in 2024 and Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association (FAMA) Industry Star Achiever Award.
In 2010, W.S. Darley & Co was named the Loyola University Illinois Family Business of the Year and was recognized by Marquette University as Alumnus Family Business of Year in 2009. He has delivered numerous family business speaking engagements including “Resolving Sibling Conflict in Family Business” at the Family Business Magazine Conference. In 2017, Darley was named the Best Midsize Board in America by Board of Directors Magazine.
He is the author of the book Sold! The Art of Relationship Sales. The book highlights emotional intelligence and authentic leadership to sell more, work your way up the corporate ladder…and what to do once you get there. Paul is married to his high school sweetheart for 38 years and together they raised three daughters in Elmhurst, IL.
Founded in 1908, W.S. Darley & Co is a fourth-generation family business, led by Paul and an executive team that has transformed this 117-year-old company into a world leader in the firefighting and defense industries.
Paul is a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, and he holds a BS Degree in Marketing and Finance from Marquette University. He earned his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where he is a guest lecturer and an executive-in-residence in the John Ward Family Business Center.
Paul has traveled to 85 countries in his 40-year tenure and has made over 500 industry speaking engagements. He serves on numerous boards and is involved with charitable business and service organizations. He is a former Chairman of the Chicago Windy City Chapter of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He was selected as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) Small business Executive of the Year in 2024 and Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association (FAMA) Industry Star Achiever Award.
In 2010, W.S. Darley & Co was named the Loyola University Illinois Family Business of the Year and was recognized by Marquette University as Alumnus Family Business of Year in 2009. He has delivered numerous family business speaking engagements including “Resolving Sibling Conflict in Family Business” at the Family Business Magazine Conference. In 2017, Darley was named the Best Midsize Board in America by Board of Directors Magazine.
He is the author of the book Sold! The Art of Relationship Sales. The book highlights emotional intelligence and authentic leadership to sell more, work your way up the corporate ladder…and what to do once you get there. Paul is married to his high school sweetheart for 38 years and together they raised three daughters in Elmhurst, IL.
Speaking At
