Klein Leadership

Klein takes pride in continuing to be family owned and operated...

Klein Tools was founded 160 years ago by a German immigrant, Mathias Klein. His descendants, now into the sixth generation, have led the company ever since its founding. The Klein family takes great pride in carrying on Mathias' legacy of creating and manufacturing the highest quality tools and related products. Their commitment to the company extends far beyond the family's interest, and is centered on maintaining and growing the company's loyal customer following and dedicated workforce.

In January 2015, Thomas R. Klein (Tom) was elected Chairman of Klein Tools, leading the strategic direction of the nearly 170 year old family-owned and family-managed company. Between 2006 and 2015, Tom Klein was President of Klein Tools, focusing the company on new products, new markets, international expansion and acquisitions in the USA, Australia, Brazil and Mexico. The focus on new products, the global expansion and domestic acquisitions, including Heritage Cutlery, other equity investments and asset purchases, drove sales increases of 100% globally.

Previously, Tom was executive vice president, materials and logistics, secretary and treasurer, responsible for global material acquisition, logistics and distribution of products starting in 2001. This included responsibility for the management of warehouses, import and export operations, transportation, capital spending, inventory control, customer service and banking relationships. Prior to this, Tom was named vice president of materials and logistics in 1991. In this position he automated the operations in the Cedar Rapids, IA fulfillment and distribution plant, and built the company’s supply chain and customer service operations.

Tom serves as Chairman of the Klein Tools' board of directors, as well as the secretary and treasurer of the Klein Tools, Inc. Charitable Foundation, which focuses on donations to medical research and development, organizations for the needy, and youth substance abuse education.

Tom has a bachelor's of Business Administration degree from Texas Christian University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

Tom Klein Jr currently serves as the president and chief operating officer at Klein Tools as well as on the company's board of directors. From 2015 through 2021, Tom served as of co-president of Klein Tools. In this position, Tom was responsible for operations, new product development, and the company's Ergodyne, GMP and Heavy Infrastructure strategic business units.

Under Tom's leadership, the company has greatly expanded its product portfolio well beyond hand tools. Klein Tools has developed into an innovation machine, quadrupling new product sales in his first 5 years leading the new product development function at Klein Tools.

Tom's career with Klein Tools started in the product development area as a product manager in 2010, where he developed new products for the power utility market among other product spaces. In 2012, Tom became GM of Klein Tools' Heavy Infrastructure (HI) SBU.

Throughout his career, Tom has received numerous professional accolades, including in 2018 for being named to tED Magazine's 30 Under 35 list. He holds a bachelor's degree of arts from Babson College, and a master's degree of business administration from Kellogg Graduate School of Management.