Title: President and Founder
Company: GrowFast Advisory
Location: Ponte Vedra, Florida, United States
Stephen R. Murray, President and Founder at GrowFast Advisory, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Advisory Services.
Mr. Murray, has excelled in his latest role at GrowFast Advisory in Jacksonville, Florida, having launched his advisory firm in 2025. In this capacity, he has positioned the company at the forefront of valuation-grade succession planning, particularly within the middle market. His work emphasizes the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions, guiding organizations through rapid technological change. Mr. Murray’s approach centers on ensuring that companies are equipped with the right skills and personnel immediately following an acquisition, enabling new owners to extract value from day one.
Having founded GrowFast Advisory after operating a predecessor company, GrowFast Human Capital LLC, for approximately two years, Mr. Murray served as its human capital exit planner. During this period, he developed advisory models that bridged human resources expertise with emerging AI applications, focusing on helping organizations adapt their workforce strategies to evolving market demands. Mr. Murray also served as a human resources advisor at GrowFast HR Solutions between 2023 and 2024, where he provided guidance on talent management and organizational alignment during a time of significant industry transformation.
Earlier, Mr. Murray spent 2022 to 2023 as the vice president of people for North America at Ocado Group plc, a British robotics company. In this role, he launched multiple sites across North America and worked closely with advanced robotics and AI technologies. Mr. Murray played a key part in several acquisitions, deepening his expertise in integrating technology-driven operations with human capital strategies. Notably, he built and launched the North American human resources department within approximately six months.
Between 2013 and 2022, Mr. Murray served as senior human resources director at KONE in Ponte Vedra, Florida. He oversaw human resources operations across half of the U.S., supporting numerous facilities involved in high-rise construction and vertical transportation systems reliant on advanced technologies.
From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Murray held the position of regional human resources director at The Coca-Cola Company in the Greater Los Angeles Area of California. There, he led a major turnaround in employee engagement outcomes by implementing an employee engagement survey process that elevated scores from the mid-60s to the low 90s over three years, achieving world-class status within Coca-Cola. This transformation included decertifying approximately 120 to 150 employees from union representation after multiple organizing campaigns.
Mr. Murray previously excelled as the human resources director at Pepsi Bottling Group, PepsiCo, in Los Angeles from 2005 to 2008. He supported operations across the Southwest U.S. and managed complex labor relations scenarios that ultimately led to his recruitment by The Coca-Cola Company.
As a human resources leader at International Paper in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, between 2002 and 2005, Mr. Murray experienced a pivotal moment when he successfully negotiated a critical contract extension with a resistant union during an acquisition by KKR & Co., ensuring the deal’s completion and earning him recognition for high-performing labor relations outcomes. His professional journey began earlier as a labor and employee relations specialist for the organization in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1997. Over this decade-long tenure with International Paper, Mr. Murray relocated frequently across approximately 15 states, gaining broad exposure to diverse operational environments.
Mr. Murray’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1994, a master’s degree in sociology and law from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1996, and a master’s degree in human resources and labor relations from the school of human resources and labor relations at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, in 1997. He also secured credentials as a certified exit planning advisor from the Exit Planning Institute, a credential that supports his expertise in guiding organizations through complex transitions involving workforce strategy and succession planning.
Active in his field, Mr. Murray is a member of both the Association for Corporate Growth and the Exit Planning Institute. Beyond his professional commitments, he participates with civic-minded organizations, such as 100 Men Who Care Jacksonville, and supports initiatives benefiting disabled children.
Recognizing his achievements, Mr. Murray was honored for high-performing labor relations outcomes at International Paper, received recognition for engagement and organizational alignment at KONE, and earned accolades for most improved employee engagement at The Coca-Cola Company. Since the launch of GrowFast, Mr. Murray’s company has been featured on the cover of Manage HR magazine, and Mr. Murray participated in a podcast interview with the Association for Corporate Growth.
Throughout his career, Mr. Murray has been recognized for his ability to drive exceptional financial performance while maintaining a strong commitment to people-centric leadership. He credits much of his approach to lessons learned from managing large-scale workforce reductions.
Looking ahead, Mr. Murray is committed to expanding GrowFast Advisory into a broader advisory platform supported by an extensive network of advisors across disciplines such as AI, wealth management, and mergers and acquisitions strategy, helping companies execute deals efficiently while scaling value creation amid rapid technological change. He is actively pursuing patents for his innovative methodologies, recognizing the accelerating pace at which AI is transforming business landscapes. Mr. Murray continues to prioritize people-first principles even as AI becomes increasingly central to business operations and leverages advanced virtual assistant technology to streamline daily workflow within his organization.
Mr. Murray’s career exemplifies adaptability amid disruption, balancing innovation with steadfast attention to people. He positions himself as an influential leader shaping how organizations navigate workforce transformation in an era defined by artificial intelligence and continuous change.
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