David Petratis

Professional Accomplishments:
David Petratis (Management '81) began as chairman, president and CEO of Allegion in August 2013 when the $2 billion security company separated from Ingersoll Rand. 

From 2008 to 2013, Petratis was president and CEO of Quanex, a position he held after serving as CEO at Square D Company/Schneider North America. Petratis credits his UNIBusiness education with laying the solid foundation on which he built his career.

David Petratis (Management '81) began as chairman, president and CEO of Allegion in August 2013 when the $2 billion security company separated from Ingersoll Rand. 

From 2008 to 2013, Petratis was president and CEO of Quanex, a position he held after serving as CEO at Square D Company/Schneider North America. Petratis credits his UNIBusiness education with laying the solid foundation on which he built his career.

Right after graduating with his UNIBusiness degree, Petratis had 72 direct reports his first day on the job with Square D. The company, he said, gave him the opportunity to apply techniques he'd learned at UNIBusiness and to grow and learn in its Lincoln, Neb., operations. At 28 years old, he was moved to run the Square D factory in Raleigh, N.C. The operation had more than 650 employees, and Petratis had become the youngest plant manager in Square D's 100-year history.

In 1994, Petratis was appointed president of MGE UPS Systems as part of a management-led leverage buy out of the company. MGE became a world leader in critical power for the Internet and was re-acquired by Schneider Electric in 2002. As part of the acquisition, Petratis was named CEO of Square D/ Schneider North America in January 2003. Under his leadership, Schneider North America more than doubled its revenues and tripled its earnings in a little over five years. In July 2008, Petratis joined Quanex Building Products as chairman and CEO. Quanex is an international manufacturer of components for the window and door industry, with revenues of $900 million and factories worldwide. In the summer of 2013, it was announced that he would serve as chairman, president and CEO of Allegion.

Education:
Management, University of Northern Iowa