Kathleen Mc Nicholas Phelps
About Kathleen Mc Nicholas Phelps
Kathleen Mc Nicholas Phelps is the Chief Financial Officer at FORTNA, where she has worked since 2024. She has over 20 years of financial leadership experience with global companies and holds an MBA from Columbia University.
Work at Fortna
Kathleen Mc Nicholas Phelps has been serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Fortna since 2024. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the company, ensuring that financial strategies align with the overall business objectives. Her tenure at Fortna marks a significant step in her career, as she brings over 18 years of experience in financial leadership within global, publicly traded companies.
Previous Experience in Finance
Before joining Fortna, Kathleen held several key positions at WestRock Company. She served as the Vice President of Finance for the Global Paper Segment from 2021 to 2023 and previously worked as the Senior Director of Finance, where she led financial planning and analysis. Additionally, she was the Chief Financial Officer at Argos USA for 11 months prior to her current role. Her extensive background includes 12 years at Newell Brands, where she held the position of Director of Finance.
Education and Expertise
Kathleen Mc Nicholas Phelps holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia University, which she completed from 2014 to 2015. She also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Georgia, where she studied from 2002 to 2006. Additionally, she obtained a Certificate in Personal and Organizational Leadership from the University of Georgia's Institute for Leadership Advancement.
Professional Contributions and Leadership
Kathleen has a robust background in financial leadership, focusing on building public-company ready finance and IT functions. She emphasizes creating productive relationships with management teams to set strategy and drive financial results. Her experience includes driving seamless enterprise integrations and organizational transformations, which are critical for the success of large, multi-billion-dollar businesses.
Board Memberships and Community Involvement
Kathleen serves on the Board of Trustees of Springmont School and is an active member of the Alumni Board of The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Her involvement in these organizations reflects her commitment to community engagement and education, further demonstrating her leadership outside of her professional responsibilities.