Keith Krach: 64th Grand Consul of Sigma Chi
Keith Krach, Purdue 1979, is the 64th Grand Consul of Sigma Chi International Fraternity and a longtime fraternity leader, educator and benefactor. His service spans undergraduate chapter leadership, more than two decades on Leadership Workshop faculty, service as Chairman of the Leadership Training Board, Grand Pro Consul and International President.
Krach has consistently described Sigma Chi as one of the foundations of his leadership philosophy and commitment to values based service. His work within the Fraternity helped advance leadership development, strategic planning, character education and programs designed to prepare members to serve their campuses, communities and country.
That belief in leadership as service has guided Krach throughout his career as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, Purdue trustee, global CEO and U.S. Under Secretary of State, as well as through his leadership of the national commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Undergraduate Leadership
Krach joined Sigma Chi’s Delta Delta chapter as an undergraduate at Purdue University. He served two terms as Consul, or chapter president, and as Magister. In 1979, Krach received Sigma Chi’s International Balfour Award, the Fraternity’s highest undergraduate honor. The award recognizes the outstanding graduating senior who best exemplifies Sigma Chi’s ideals through leadership, scholarship and service.
Service to the Fraternity
As an alumnus, Krach served Sigma Chi in numerous capacities, including:
- 64th Grand Consul
- Grand Pro Consul
- Chairman of the Leadership Training Board for six years
- Leadership Training Board member for ten years
- Leadership Workshop faculty member for more than two decades
- Undergraduate Representative on the Executive Committee
- Member of the Foundation Board of Governors
Fraternity Honors
Krach has received several of Sigma Chi’s highest alumni honors, including induction into the Order of Constantine, recognition as a Significant Sig and induction into the Sigma Chi Hall of Fame. These distinctions recognize his sustained leadership, service to the Fraternity and broader professional contributions.
Transformational Leadership
Much of the leadership development framework that continues to shape Sigma Chi today was advanced during Krach’s service to the Fraternity. As Chairman of the Leadership Training Board, he strengthened the annual Leadership Training Workshop and helped develop the Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit.
As Grand Pro Consul, Krach helped lead the creation of Sigma Chi’s strategic plan, built around a clear vision: to establish the Fraternity as the preeminent collegiate leadership development organization and to develop values based leaders committed to the betterment of character, campus and community.
As the 64th Grand Consul, Krach led Sigma Chi during its 150th anniversary and advanced initiatives recognizing character, service and military leadership. During his tenure, he established the Mark V. Anderson Character in Action Leadership Award, which honors members who demonstrate exceptional integrity, courage and service.
He also helped establish the Military Service Recognition Pin, which recognizes Sigma Chi brothers who have served in the armed forces of the United States and Canada.
That commitment to leadership development continues through the Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop, which remains a cornerstone of Sigma Chi’s efforts to prepare undergraduate members to lead with character, purpose and service.
Purdue Leadership
2007 to 2013: Following his service as Grand Consul, Krach was appointed to the Purdue University Board of Trustees and later elected chairman. In that role, he helped guide a period of significant growth and institutional transformation, including the selection of Mitch Daniels as Purdue’s 12th president.
In 2014, Purdue dedicated the Krach Leadership Center, an 81,500 square foot facility supporting student leadership, campus organizations and student success. In 2018, Purdue awarded Krach an honorary Doctor of Industrial Engineering degree.
Leadership Beyond Sigma Chi
Krach carried the same values based leadership philosophy into business, public service and civic leadership. After earning his MBA from Harvard Business School, he became the youngest vice president in General Motors history, co founded the engineering software company Rasna, and later served as Chairman and CEO of Ariba and DocuSign. He subsequently served as the U.S. Under Secretary of State, where he advanced economic security, trusted technology and collaboration among democratic partners.
Krach continues that work as Chairman of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and Chairman of the U.S. Taiwan Business Council. He also led Freedom 250, the national commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. Across these roles, the leadership philosophy first strengthened at Purdue and Sigma Chi has remained consistent: build trust, develop principled leaders and prepare the next generation to serve.