1,030: Leveraging Global Expertise to Shape ADP’s Financial Future | Don McGuire, CFO, ADP

CFO THOUGHT LEADER

In 2021, Don McGuire received an unexpected call from ADP's HR leader, offering him the

In 2021, ADP’s HR leader reached out to Don McGuire, then the company’s globe-trotting EMEA

In 2021, ADP’s HR leader reached out to Don McGuire, then the company’s globe-trotting EMEA president, to gauge his interest in stepping into the firm’s CFO role. McGuire was surprised, inasmuch as it had been nearly two decades since he had veered off the traditional finance career track. During this interim, McGuire had taken on various global leadership roles far removed from the typical CFO pathway.

However, as the former CFO of ADP Canada, McGuire was by no means an unlikely candidate. Still, the leap from being CFO of a single geography to being CFO of an entire publicly traded corporation would be significant, and McGuire’s experiences along his unique previous journey served to make the unexpected offer to him only more intriguing.

As it turns out, back in 2002, while serving as CFO of ADP Canada, McGuire had come to a similar crossroads. Although his career in finance had been progressing smoothly, his curiosity about the broader business landscape had led him to consider a different direction. Encouraged by his superior, ADP Canada’s president—who had noticed McGuire’s strong rapport with clients during joint meetings—McGuire took a leap of faith, stepping out of his finance role and into a client services leadership position. Taking on this mission—devoid of a “C” title—was a calculated risk, but McGuire believed that by immersing himself in the operational side of the business, he could gain valuable insights and broaden his leadership skills. Very consequentially, this move allowed him to engage directly with clients, manage teams, and drive business outcomes in ways that traditional finance roles seldom offer.

This bold decision set McGuire on a unique career path, ultimately equipping him with the diverse experiences that would make him an ideal candidate for ADP’s CFO role nearly 20 years later.