Titan International, founded in 1984, began as a small operation in Quincy, Illinois, producing farm wheels. Paul Reitz’s entrepreneurial journey, however, has been built upon the company’s original mission of developing quality products to improve the performance of large equipment in critical industries.
“Titan’s founder, Morry Taylor, was a passionate entrepreneur who took a vision and created a niche industry for our company to flourish,” said Reitz. “Since becoming chief executive officer, I’ve had the honor and privilege of taking that original vision that was fueled by an entrepreneurial ‘can do’ spirit and proudly building upon it to reach new heights.”
Since taking the helm in 2017, Reitz has successfully guided the company to new heights, cementing Titan International’s position as a global leader in producing innovative wheel, tire, and steel undercarriage solutions for agriculture, construction, earthmoving, forestry, and lawn and garden equipment.
Under his leadership, Titan International has continually focused on product development and innovation, launching hundreds of new products each year. One of the most notable innovations has been the Low Sidewall Technology (LSW) wheel/tire assemblies, which have transformed the performance of agricultural equipment over the past five years.
Reitz’s leadership also resulted in record-breaking financial success in 2022, when Titan International achieved its best-ever sales of $2.2 billion, with an EBITDA of $253 million and net income of $140 million.
In addition to product innovation, Reitz has emphasized the importance of Titan’s “One Titan” culture, a framework he introduced to foster teamwork, accountability and a commitment to customer satisfaction. This framework has been key to the firm’s resilience, especially during challenging times such as the economic downturn in 2018-2019 and the global pandemic in 2020. The company’s ability to adapt and thrive through these crises, with 27 global plants declared critical infrastructure, speaks to the strength of its team and the company’s deep commitment to serving its customers, said Reitz.
“I am most proud of building a strong team at Titan over the past 10 years as president/chief executive officer,” he said. “That is a challenging accomplishment to do over an extended period of time at a public company that has experienced a number of economic cycles during that period.”
A staunch advocate for continuous learning and deeply connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, Reitz has been recognized for his leadership and strategic vision. In 2023, he was named an Ernst and Young entrepreneur of the year Midwest finalist. In 2024, Reitz led the acquisition of the Carlstar Group, adding new capabilities to Titan International’s portfolio and expanding its global reach.
“To reignite my passion, I focus on constantly being curious and learning – questioning what I know and being eager to learn new things,” said Reitz.
