Paul Donahue

Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Genuine Parts Company

Search every verified Paul Donahue interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Paul Donahue, Executive Chairman of Genuine Parts Company, appeared alongside President and CEO Will Stengel at the Terry Third Thursday event on September 18, 2025. During the discussion, Donahue described the current economy as "really tough," noting that small businesses are feeling pressure from higher interest rates and inflation. He cited the company's independent NAPA owners as a proxy for small business sentiment, saying they are "trying to make sense of the world." Donahue also commented on the "Big Beautiful Bill" and its goal of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., stating that the company supports the mission of the current administration. He noted, however, that building factories domestically, such as one for brake rotors, would take three to four years and would not happen quickly.