EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA – Chris Van Guilder, Chief Customer Officer at Starkey, has been named one of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 2025 40 Under 40 honorees. The annual recognition highlights accomplished and influential young leaders across the Twin Cities business community.
“Chris is the kind of leader every organization hopes to have—intelligent, adaptable, and driven by purpose. His ability to navigate complex challenges while inspiring those around him is truly exceptional. Chris embodies the future of leadership – sharp, strategic, and deeply committed to the people around him. We are incredibly proud of this well-deserved honor.”
–Brandon Sawalich, President and CEO of Starkey
Van Guilder joined Starkey in 2013 after a career in politics. He began by managing the company’s global events team and was promoted to Chief of Staff within two years. Over the past decade, he has played a key role in several of the company’s strategic initiatives, contributing to global operations and supporting leadership transitions in multiple capacities.
Appointed Chief Customer Officer in 2023, Van Guilder currently leads a global team of 145 customer service professionals. Under his leadership, the organization reports a 25% improvement in service levels and a first-call resolution rate exceeding 90%, which is more than 15% above the industry average.
Beyond his work at Starkey, Van Guilder is involved in several community initiatives. He serves on the board of Spare Key, a nonprofit supporting families with critically ill or seriously injured loved ones. He and his wife are also active youth mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters – Twin Cities.
Van Guilder’s selection as a 40 Under 40 honoree reflects his leadership within Starkey and his broader contributions to the community.
About Starkey
Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey is the only American-owned provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.
