Jim Kavanaugh, Co-Founder and CEO, World Wide Technology, Co-Founder and CEO, World Wide Technology

Jim Kavanaugh

Co-Founder and CEO

World Wide Technology

Jim Kavanaugh is the co-founder and CEO of World Wide Technology (WWT), a $20 billion information technology systems integrator. Kavanaugh and his management team have guided WWT from a small start-up technology company into a world-class organization with more than 10,000 employees.

In the early years, Kavanaugh solidified WWT’s financial position through profitable growth and a $27.5 million venture capital investment, which was repaid in 2005. Kavanaugh currently focuses his time in the areas of technology innovation, long-term planning, strategic acquisitions, financial performance, employee development and passionately overseeing WWT’s unique corporate culture. Prior to founding WWT, Kavanaugh worked at Future Electronics and played professional soccer. He received his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Saint Louis University in 1986.

Kavanaugh has won numerous business, entrepreneurial and charitable awards over the years and earned a position in Saint Louis University’s Smurfit-Stone Entrepreneurial Alumni Hall of Fame. He was recognized by Glassdoor as the #2 ranked CEO in 2017 for all large businesses in the U.S. He was also included on Glassdoor’s Highest Rated CEOs During the COVID-19 Crisis list in 2020 and ranked #24 on the Top CEO list in 2021. Kavanaugh is honored that WWT has been included in the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list by Great Place to Work for 12 consecutive years.

Kavanaugh is an investor and board member of cybersecurity firm Privoro, a board member of Stifel Financial Corporation, and a member of Business Roundtable. He has also been a trustee of the board for his alma mater, St. Louis University since 2010. Deeply committed to giving back to the community, Kavanaugh served as president of the board for St. Patrick Center, an organization that provides services for homeless Missourians. Kavanaugh is a current member of the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer of Missouri - St. Louis Chapter. Jim led a $9.1 million capital campaign, enabling the Society to renovate and remodel Hope Lodge St. Louis, a free home away from home for patients and their caregivers, which was renamed the World Wide Technology Hope Lodge in 2020. Additionally, he has supported many local and national charitable organizations such as ALS Association, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Toys for Tots, Cardinal Glennon, Junior Achievement and United Way.

Kavanaugh was chairman and founder of Saint Louis FC, which played in the United Soccer League and served as chairman of Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. He is an investor owner in the St. Louis Blues and an investor owner in St. Louis City SC, a Major League Soccer franchise.

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