Tom Golisano, founder of Paychex Inc., will step down from the company’s Board of Directors following its July meeting.
Golisano, 83, founded Paychex in 1971 to offer payroll services to small businesses. Under his leadership, the company went public in 1983. He served as president, CEO, and chairman until retiring as president and CEO in 2004, and continued as board chairman until 2021, when Martin Mucci, then CEO, took over the role.
“It’s been a great run of over 54 years,” Golisano said. “I’m very proud of the company and our performance over the last five decades, including the continued growth in its service offerings, technology advancements, and financial performance.”
Beyond his business achievements, Golisano has become a major philanthropist. Last fall, he announced nearly $500 million in donations to over 120 nonprofits across Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Southwest Florida. To date, his lifetime charitable giving exceeds $800 million.
