# Don Edwards

> Donald J. Edwards founded Flexpoint Ford in 2005 and led it as CEO for twenty years before becoming executive chairman. A University of Illinois finance graduate and former varsity golfer, he chaired the university’s trustees from 2019 to 2024 and, with his wife Anne, pledged $10 million to the university in 2020.

- **Role:** Founder and Executive Chairman at Flexpoint Ford
- **Organizations:** Flexpoint Ford, University of Illinois Board of Trustees (chairman, 2019-2024), GTCR (former principal), Lazard (former investment banker), Liberté Investors (former president and CEO), PGA of America (investment and audit committee chair, documented in 2024)
- **Education:** B.S. in Finance, highest honors; Bronze Tablet, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, M.B.A., Baker Scholar, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Founded Flexpoint Ford and served twenty years as CEO., Four-year Illinois golf letter-winner; member of the 1988 Big Ten championship team., University of Illinois highest honors and Harvard Baker Scholar.

## Career timeline

- **1988** — Graduated from Illinois; member of its Big Ten championship golf team.
- **1988-1992** — Worked in mergers and acquisitions at Lazard.
- **1994** — Completed Harvard MBA and began private equity career at GTCR.
- **2002-2004** — President and CEO of Liberté Investors; guided acquisition of a nonstandard auto insurance provider.
- **2005** — Founded Flexpoint Ford.
- **2017** — Appointed University of Illinois trustee.
- **2019-2024** — Chairman of University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
- **2020** — With Anne Edwards, pledged $10 million to Illinois.
- **2025** — CEO succession announced October 28; official biography records CEO service ending in November 2025.

## Achievements

- Founded Flexpoint Ford and served twenty years as CEO.
- Four-year Illinois golf letter-winner; member of the 1988 Big Ten championship team.
- University of Illinois highest honors and Harvard Baker Scholar.
- $10 million joint university pledge with Anne Edwards in 2020.

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Flexpoint announced Chris Ackerman as CEO and Edwards as full-time executive chairman.
- **2026-02** — Featured on Forged in America episode 14, discussing golf, private equity, mentorship and university leadership.

## Links

- Website: https://flexpointford.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-edwards-0b119548

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/don-edwards
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-10