Cheryl Merchant  

Cheryl Merchant brings four decades of manufacturing leadership to her role as CEO of the Taco Family of Companies, where she has driven one of the industry’s most remarkable growth stories. Since taking the helm in 2020, she has doubled the company’s revenue, added more than 350 team members, expanded into England with a new business unit, and launched global facility expansions totaling more than 240,000 square feet. In 2025, her accomplishments earned her induction into the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

Merchant’s path through the manufacturing world reads like a case study in scaling operations and building cultures of excellence. Her leadership journey began on Detroit assembly lines and evolved through roles at GM, Mazda, Ford, and Lear Corporation, taking her across Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Before joining Taco, she spent 19 years as president and CEO of Hope Global, transforming the company into a Tier II automotive leader with fivefold revenue growth and 2,000 employees spanning five countries.

When she arrived at Taco as president of North American operations in 2019, Merchant brought more than operational expertise—she brought a philosophy of inclusive, people-first leadership that continues to shape the company’s future. Her advocacy for women in manufacturing extends far beyond the boardroom; she mentors emerging leaders and serves on boards that drive Rhode Island’s economic growth, including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the University of Rhode Island Advisory Board, and the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association.

Merchant’s community involvement mirrors her professional impact. She serves on the Board of Governors for the Rhode Island Commodores and has held leadership and trustee roles with Bryant University, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, and the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in journalism and political science, Merchant also holds honorary doctorates from the New England Institute of Technology and Bryant University. Her honors—including Providence Business News’s Career Achievement Award, New England Business Woman of the Year, and Crain’s Women in Manufacturing of the Year—underscore a career defined by innovation, mentorship, and lasting impact.