Michael Zimmerman

Former Executive Vice President, ITW Board Chair, Chicago Botanic Garden

Michael R. Zimmerman is a strategic, results-driven executive with a proven track record for growing top and bottom line organically and through M&A. As Executive Vice President, Polymers & Fluids for Illinois Tool Works Inc, Mike lead a $1.8 billion global business with approximately 3,500 employees and more than 30 manufacturing plants around the world. ITW is a Fortune 200 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenues totaling $16.1 billion. The company leverages the unique and proprietary ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins. Mike has led 15 M&A transactions worldwide during his tenure at ITW. He is a Founding Executive Sponsor of ITW’s African American Network and of “Pride at ITW” and was a member of ITW’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Mike received a BA in history and economics from Brandeis University. He also received an MBA from Columbia University. He is currently the Board Chair for the Chicago Botanic Garden. He started on the Board in 2018, became Board Chair in 2022, and was recently re-elected to a second term as Chair, through 2028. The Chicago Botanic Garden set a record for visits in 2024 with 1.3 million and is cherished by visitors of all ages. In addition to its main 385 acre display garden, the CBG’s Science, Education, and urban agriculture programs are national and international models.

Mike was born in Brooklyn, NY and considers Port Washington, NY his hometown. He and his wife Debbie also lived in Westchester County, NY and chose to raise their two wonderful daughters in bucolic SImsbury, CT. The girls are now young adults living in Philadelphia (Carrie, a surgical resident) and Maine (Emma, a writer). Mike and Debbie have lived in Chicagoland for the last ten years. Mike is an avid sports fan particularly of the NBA and the NY Knicks and sadly, also for the NY Jets. Mike is also a slow, but enthusiastic cyclist, having done RAGBRAI three times, and marvels at the wonderful athletes at the Tour de France every year.