Christopher J. Nelson is president and CEO of Stanley Black & Decker, the New Britain-based tools and outdoor products manufacturer with global brands including DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, STANLEY, BLACK+DECKER and Cub Cadet. The company operates in dozens of countries and generates roughly $15 billion in annual revenue.
Nelson joined Stanley Black & Decker in 2023 as chief operating officer, executive vice president and president of its Tools & Outdoor segment. In that role he helped streamline the company around its core brands and businesses while advancing the strategic roadmap for its largest division. He became CEO last year, overseeing the company’s global workforce and operations.
Nelson took the helm amid a multiyear turnaround effort aimed at improving Stanley’s profitability and simplifying its portfolio. Recent moves have included cost-cutting initiatives and the sale of the Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing business for $1.8 billion.
The company has also been reshaping its manufacturing footprint. Stanley Black & Decker in late February announced plans to close its last remaining manufacturing plant in New Britain — ending more than 180 years of production in the city — while maintaining its corporate headquarters there. The move will lead to 300 local job cuts.
Before joining Stanley Black & Decker, Nelson served as president of Carrier’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning segment, overseeing its global commercial and residential product portfolio. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles with the U.S. Army, Johnson & Johnson and McKinsey & Co.