Chief Commercial Officer, Middleby
Search every verified Steven Spittle interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a September 2022 interview, Steven Spittle, Chief Commercial Officer at Middleby, described his role as overseeing many of the company's commercial food service divisions in the US and Europe, with involvement in selling activities including chains, dealers, buying groups, and reps. He stated that no two days are the same and that his work includes financial aspects as well as engagement with sales teams. Spittle said that the food service industry has "completely failed" to attract young talent, arguing that trade associations cannot solve the problem alone and that individual companies and leaders must take risks by hiring young people outside their comfort zones. He attributed Middleby's culture to CEO Tim Fitzgerald, whom he described as "the smartest person I've ever met but never acts like it," and emphasized that the best way to maintain culture in a large company is to find, develop, and empower the right people in local divisions. Spittle also noted that he learned from mentor Dave Brewer the importance of balancing a demanding career with family life, and that he tries to be intentional about spending quality time with his family.
“On paper, a lot of our Middleby commercial food service divisions, especially the traditional cooking divisions, report into me in the US and Europe, and I'm pretty involved with a lot of our selling activities domestically and in Europe, including chains, dealers, buying groups, and reps. But every day is different, s...”
“We have completely failed as an industry to attract young talent. Everyone says the industry is old and lacks young people, but by and large, we haven't addressed it holistically. Trade associations can't solve this alone; it's up to every company and individual to take risks and hire young people outside their comfort...”
“When you're in a leadership role at Middleby, you affect the lives of about ten thousand employees and their families. You have to think about that every day—not just the decisions you make but how you conduct yourself, because you represent all those people.”
“The culture at Middleby begins and ends with Tim Fitzgerald, our CEO. He is the smartest person I've ever met but never acts like it. He never takes credit for success; it's always about the team. That leadership style creates an environment where people are empowered and want to be around him, which is the foundation...”
“I learned from Dave Brewer the importance of balancing a demanding career with family life. Dave can be intimidating and direct, but his greatest success is his family and faith. That taught me it's possible to be dedicated to your work and still develop great humans at home.”
“I never thought I would work for a manufacturer. When Paul Angrik invited me to join Middleby after they acquired Wells, I was ready for a new challenge. That opportunity changed my career path and started my manufacturing life.”
“The best way to maintain and replicate culture in a large company like Middleby is to find, develop, and empower the right people in local divisions. They carry the message and culture to their teams. Even as we grow, we want to act as small as possible to keep that genuine culture alive.”
“I try to be intentional about spending quality time with my family. Moments like taking my kids to school and going to a local coffee shop, or trips with my daughter, are priceless escapes from work stress and help me recharge.”
“Mentorship is critical. I was fortunate to have mentors like Paul Angrik, Dave Brewer, and Tim Fitzgerald who invested in me despite my lack of experience. But we also need to mentor across competitors and companies, like Barry Wank did for me, to grow the industry as a whole.”
“We have to stop relying on trade associations alone to solve the young talent problem. It requires individual companies and leaders to take risks, hire young people, and invest in their development. Only then can we ensure the future of our industry.”
Steve Spittle is the Chief Commercial Officer of The Middleby Corporation, a company with over 110 manufacturing brands in its ...
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