Cleophus "Cleo" P. Franklin Jr. is a transformational leader whose 35-year journey through the global agriculture industry has redefined what's possible when vision meets execution. As a retired, award-winning business executive, Franklin has consistently turned ambitious goals into breakthrough realities—from launching startups that disrupted entire markets to steering multi-billion-dollar enterprises toward unprecedented growth.
Franklin's legendary career includes pivotal leadership roles at agricultural giants John Deere, Case-New Holland (CNH), and Mahindra, where his strategic brilliance has become the stuff of industry lore. At CNH, his leadership delivered the highest market share growth across hay equipment, large tractors, and combines. As Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Strategic Planning for Mahindra Americas, he orchestrated a remarkable transformation that shattered revenue records and captured market share that competitors thought impossible, improving Mahindra's market position from number six to number three in North America in the 120 Horsepower and under segment. Under his guidance, Mahindra not only grew—it soared to the pinnacle of customer and dealer satisfaction across multiple global markets, fundamentally changing how the industry approaches innovation and service excellence.
His extraordinary contributions have earned him some of agriculture's most prestigious honors: the FFA Honorary American Degree, induction into the Morningside University "M-Club" Hall of Fame, and a place in the Mahindra Business Hall of Fame alongside his executive leadership colleagues and fellow visionaries who achieved what many deemed unattainable.
Yet Franklin's most profound impact may lie in his unwavering commitment to developing tomorrow's leaders. As CEO and founder of Franklin Strategic Solutions—a global consulting business—and the visionary architect behind Morningside University's Franklin Leadership Foundation, he has dedicated himself to identifying, nurturing, and unleashing the potential of purpose-driven leaders worldwide. His role as Chief Marketing Officer for Houston-based education technology company Laddering Your Success further amplifies his mission to revolutionize how we prepare the next generation for success.
Franklin's influence transcends traditional boundaries. As a sought-after board adviser, keynote speaker, and strategic investor, Franklin is also a senior corporate fellow at the University of Houston-Downtown's Marilyn Davies School of Business and has served as an adjunct professor since 2018. His contributions and expertise have shaped organizations across the heavy equipment manufacturing, academia, healthcare services, technology, and STEM education sectors. This rare breadth of experience, combined with his proven ability to navigate complex global markets, makes him one of today's most trusted voices on leadership and strategic transformation.
A prolific author and thought leader, Franklin has penned six acclaimed books on leadership and professional development, including his latest work, "Another Cup With Cleo," where he masterfully weaves storytelling with real-world leadership insights to elevate readers' capabilities. His collaborative spirit shines through in "What Do You See When You Look at Me?"—a powerful children's book co-authored with his son, Michael J. Franklin—and his deeply personal poetry collections, "Words From My Heart" and his Amazon bestselling "More Words From My Heart - Vol II." Each work reflects his commitment to sharing hard-won wisdom and inspiring others to reach their highest potential.
Franklin earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina's prestigious Kenan-Flagler Business School and his bachelor's degree from Morningside University. He and his wife, Lois, reside in Houston, Texas.
Franklin's demonstrated ability to drive transformational growth, combined with his strategic acumen and commitment to developing organizational excellence, positions him to deliver exceptional value and governance insight to any board seeking a leader who understands how to turn vision into measurable results.