Episode 94: How an Independent Board of Directors and a Non-Family CEO Helped this Family Business Grow with Matt Nielsen at Nielsen-Massey Company

Our guest today is Matt Nielsen.

Matt is a third-generation steward, director and shareholder for their family-owned Nielsen-Massey enterprises.

He currently operates as the Strategic Advisor for Corporate Development, overseeing the companies’ inorganic growth strategies via acquisition and investment. Over Matt's 30+ years engaged in the family business, he also has had responsibility at one time or another for the company’s worldwide operations, retail & food service sales, strategic initiatives, and European business unit.

In addition to serving on the Nielsen-Massey board of directors, he is currently the Director for family-owned Graziano Brothers, a 4th generation producer of specialty sausage products, specialty retailer and wholesaler; Director for Family Enterprise USA; Vice President – Treasurer and Director of the Nielsen-Massey Foundation; Executive in Residence, Mentor and Panelist in Kellogg’s John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprises.

Matt graduated from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and holds two Certificates of Professional Achievement in Family Business Leadership and Governance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, Illinois.

In this episode of Family Business Today, you will learn:

• Which Nielsen Massey product Greg uses often when cooking breakfast for his family

• How Nielsen Massey’s governance structure has changed over time

• The process Matt’s family followed in forming an independent board

• How the family recruited for and chose a non-family CEO

• The role of a Family Shareholder Director

• Why Matt works with family business centers often

• And more…

To learn more about the Nielsen family and Nielsen Massey Vanillas, visit https://nielsenmassey.com/.   

At the Tennessee Center for Family Business our passion is to help business owners create a positive environment in which their family THRIVES, their business performs and working together they create a lasting family legacy. To learn more about the Tennessee Center for Family Business visit www.tncfb.com.