For global industrial companies with decentralized operating models, clear, consistent enterprise communications are critical to reinforcing strategy, performance and long-term value creation.
THE CHALLENGE
Illinois Tool Works (ITW), a $14.5 billion global industrial company operating across multiple business segments in more than 50 countries, is built on a highly decentralized, entrepreneurial culture. While this model drives performance and innovation, it creates limited opportunities to communicate as a single, unified enterprise. ITW’s Annual Report and Sustainability Report serve as two of the most important platforms for articulating enterprise strategy, performance and priorities to investors, employees and other stakeholders.
THE SOLUTION
Dix & Eaton has partnered with ITW for more than 10 years, strengthening how its signature reports work together to tell a cohesive enterprise story. For the 2024 Annual Report and 2024 Sustainability Report, we helped align narrative, design and data to clearly communicate ITW’s business model, enterprise strategy and long-term priorities.
The Annual Report was structured to reinforce ITW’s enterprise strategy and operating model, highlight segment performance and connect financial results to strategic execution. In parallel, the Sustainability Report showcased ITW’s commitments to governance, environmental stewardship, people and communities while clearly linking sustainability priorities to the ITW business model and value creation approach.
We also built and manage the sustainability section of ITW’s corporate website, creating an evergreen platform for ongoing storytelling. The site serves as a central repository for current and past reports, summaries, CDP disclosures and verification statements while enabling more timely communications beyond the annual reporting cycle.
THE IMPACT
Together, ITW’s Annual Report and Sustainability Report deliver clear, consistent enterprise messaging across a diverse global organization. The reports help stakeholders understand how ITW’s decentralized structure supports disciplined execution, sustainable performance and long-term growth.
Through a more focused narrative, improved visual presentation and expanded use of digital channels, ITW strengthened engagement with investors, employees and other stakeholders – using its reporting ecosystem to reinforce enterprise alignment, transparency and confidence in the company’s strategy and performance.
