Robert Bruggeworth Elected Chairman of MSA Safety Inc.

MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) announced that its Board of Directors has elected Robert A. Bruggeworth as Chairman of the Board, effective May 8, 2026.

Rhea-AI Summary

MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) announced that its Board of Directors has elected Robert A. Bruggeworth as Chairman of the Board, effective May 8, 2026. He succeeds Nish Vartanian, who will remain on the Board as a Director.

Bruggeworth previously served as Lead Independent Director. Company leadership attributes meaningful board guidance and support for strategic goals to his tenure. Vartanian had served as Chairman for six years and is expected to continue contributing his experience and counsel as a board member.

Positive

• Robert A. Bruggeworth elected Chairman of the Board effective May 8, 2026
• Former Chairman Nish Vartanian remains on the Board as a Director
• New Chairman previously served as Lead Independent Director, providing board-level continuity

Negative

• None.

Argus May 15 session

-1.97% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – MSA

In the May 15 session, MSA declined 1.97%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights a leadership transition on the Board, with Robert A. Bruggeworth becomi...

Analysis

This announcement highlights a leadership transition on the Board, with Robert A. Bruggeworth becoming Chairman effective May 8, 2026 and former Chairman Nish Vartanian remaining as Director. It emphasizes continuity, board confidence, and MSA’s long-term safety mission rather than financial or strategic changes. In context of recent earnings, acquisition, and dividend news, investors may focus on how board composition supports execution of growth initiatives and ongoing capital-allocation discipline.

Key Figures

Chairman effective date: May 8, 2026 Prior chair tenure: 6 years

Chairman effective date

May 8, 2026

Effective date for Robert A. Bruggeworth as Chairman of the Board

Prior chair tenure

6 years

Nish Vartanian’s leadership as Chairman over the past six years

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: May 05

5 events

1. May 05

   Autronica sale agreed

   24h Move

   +2.2%

   Agreement for MSA to buy Autronica from Sentinel for about $555M.

2. May 05

   Strategic acquisition

   24h Move

   +2.2%

   MSA to acquire Autronica, expanding fixed fire and gas detection business.

3. May 04

   Q1 2026 earnings

   24h Move

   +2.2%

   Q1 2026 results with higher sales, strong margins and shareholder returns.

4. May 04

   Dividend increase

   24h Move

   -0.3%

   56th consecutive annual dividend increase and declared preferred dividend.

5. Apr 21

   Product and tech launch

   24h Move

   -1.0%

   Launch of G1 XR Edition SCBA and FireGrid API at FDIC 2026.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

PITTSBURGH, May 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA) has elected Robert A. Bruggeworth to the position of Chairman of the Board effective May 8, 2026, succeeding Nish Vartanian, who will continue to serve the company as a Director.

MSA President and CEO Steven C. Blanco said, "On behalf of our Executive Leadership Team, I congratulate Bob on this well-earned distinction, and I welcome the opportunity to continue the strong partnership we have developed during his service as Lead Independent Director. Bob's guidance on the Board has been an important contributor to our success, and his leadership as Chairman positions us well to achieve our future goals."

"It is a privilege to have been elected Chairman of MSA Safety, and I want to thank Nish for his strong leadership as Chairman over the past six years. I look forward to his continued contributions and counsel as a member of our Board," Mr. Bruggeworth said. "MSA's impact in protecting workers and critical infrastructures spans the globe, and I am confident that the company will continue to build upon its far-reaching legacy of safety."

Mr. Vartanian commented, "Bob's deep expertise and strong leadership have served the Board extremely well. He has earned the Board's full confidence and is well positioned to assume the role of Chairman." 

About Mr. Bruggeworth

Mr. Bruggeworth became an MSA Director in 2007 and was appointed Lead Independent Director in 2017. He serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Qorvo, Inc., a leading global provider of connectivity and power solutions. He also serves on the Qorvo Board of Directors.

Prior to the merger of RF Micro Devices, Inc. (RFMD) and TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. to form Qorvo, Mr. Bruggeworth served as RFMD's President and Chief Executive Officer and served on its Board of Directors. He previously served RFMD as both President of the company and Vice President of Wireless Products. Before joining RFMD, Mr. Bruggeworth held a variety of positions at AMP, Inc., a $5.5 billion supplier of electrical and electronic connection devices, including Divisional Vice President and Area Director for AMP's Asia Pacific Central region; Divisional Vice President of Operations, Asia Pacific; and most recently Divisional Vice President of Computer and Consumer Electronics, based in Hong Kong, China.

Mr. Bruggeworth attended Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. In addition to the MSA and Qorvo boards, he serves on the board of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and was its Chair in 2021.

About MSA Safety

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is the global leader in advanced industrial safety technology products and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2025 revenues of $1.9 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of approximately 5,300 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robert-bruggeworth-elected-chairman-of-msa-safety-inc-302772816.html

SOURCE MSA Safety

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Who is the new Chairman of MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) as of May 2026?

Robert A. Bruggeworth is the new Chairman of the Board of MSA Safety, effective May 8, 2026. According to MSA Safety, he moves into this role after serving as Lead Independent Director and providing guidance leadership credits as important to the company’s success.

When did Robert Bruggeworth become Chairman of MSA Safety (MSA)?

Robert A. Bruggeworth became Chairman of MSA Safety’s Board effective May 8, 2026. According to MSA Safety, the Board formally elected him to the position, marking a transition from his prior role as Lead Independent Director while maintaining continuity in board leadership.

What role will former Chairman Nish Vartanian have at MSA Safety (MSA) after May 2026?

Nish Vartanian will continue serving MSA Safety as a Director after stepping down as Chairman. According to MSA Safety, he previously held the Chairman role for six years and is expected to keep contributing experience and counsel as a member of the Board.

What was Robert Bruggeworth’s prior position on the MSA Safety (MSA) Board?

Before being elected Chairman, Robert A. Bruggeworth served as Lead Independent Director on MSA Safety’s Board. According to MSA Safety, company leadership describes his guidance in this position as an important contributor to the firm’s success and future strategic goals.

How does MSA Safety describe the impact of its new Chairman on future goals?

MSA Safety’s leadership links Robert A. Bruggeworth’s board guidance to the company’s success and future goals. According to MSA Safety, his leadership as Chairman is viewed as positioning the organization to pursue objectives while building on its legacy of protecting workers and critical infrastructures.

What does the chairman transition mean for MSA Safety (MSA) board continuity?

The transition keeps key leaders on MSA Safety’s Board, supporting continuity in oversight. According to MSA Safety, Robert A. Bruggeworth moves from Lead Independent Director to Chairman, while former Chairman Nish Vartanian remains as a Director, continuing to provide contributions and counsel.