Stephen Shafer becomes A. O. Smith (NYSE: AOS) chairman and remains CEO
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
A. O. Smith Corporation announced a leadership transition in its board. Effective July 1, 2026, Executive Chairman Kevin J. Wheeler will retire from the executive chairman role but will remain on the board of directors. At the same time, Stephen M. Shafer, currently president, chief executive officer and a director, will become chairman, combining the chairman and CEO roles.
Shafer joined the company as president and chief operating officer in March 2024, became president and CEO and a director on July 1, 2025, and will now lead both the board and global operations. The board’s lead director highlighted Wheeler’s three-decade impact, including global expansion, acquisitions and navigating the COVID-19 period, while expressing confidence that Shafer’s combined role will support strategy, operations and long-term value creation.
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Insights
A. O. Smith is consolidating its chairman and CEO roles while keeping board continuity.
The company is transitioning from Kevin Wheeler as executive chairman to Stephen Shafer as chairman, while Shafer continues as president and CEO. Wheeler remains on the board, preserving institutional knowledge and providing continuity after three decades of leadership.
Combining the chairman and CEO roles centralizes oversight and management in Shafer, which can streamline decision-making but also concentrates authority. The board maintains a lead director, which can help balance governance. Future disclosures in company reports may clarify how the board evaluates this structure over time.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 5.02, 9.01
2 items
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Effective date of Wheeler retirement as Executive Chairman: July 1, 2026
News release date: June 22, 2026
Wheeler A. O. Smith tenure: Three decades
+2 more
5 metrics
Effective date of Wheeler retirement as Executive Chairman
July 1, 2026
Date Kevin Wheeler retires as Executive Chairman but remains on board
News release date
June 22, 2026
Date A. O. Smith announced the leadership transition
Wheeler A. O. Smith tenure
Three decades
Board lead director notes Wheeler’s impact spanning three decades
Shafer CEO appointment date
July 1, 2025
Date Shafer became president, CEO and director
Shafer A. O. Smith start date
March 2024
Joined as president and chief operating officer
Key Terms
Executive Chairman, lead director, board of directors, global footprint, +1 more
5 terms
Executive Chairman financial
"announced today that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire effective July 1"
An executive chairman is the board leader who also takes an active role in running the company, combining oversight of the board with hands-on involvement in strategy and major decisions. For investors, this matters because it concentrates influence in one person—like a team captain who both sets the game plan and plays on the field—so their judgment can speed decisions but also increases governance and succession risk that can affect stock value.
lead director financial
"“Kevin’s impact on A. O. Smith spans three decades,” said Chris Mapes, lead director of the board"
A lead director is a board member chosen by other independent directors to coordinate the board’s independent oversight of company management, acting like a team captain or referee who organizes meetings, leads discussions without the CEO present, and serves as a primary contact between independent directors and company leadership. Investors care because a strong lead director helps prevent conflicts of interest, improves decision-making and accountability, and signals that the board is actively watching how management runs the business.
board of directors financial
"Wheeler will remain a member of the company’s board of directors"
The Board of Directors is a group of people chosen by a company's owners to help make big decisions and oversee how the company is run. They act like a team of advisors or managers, making sure the company stays on track and meets its goals. Their choices can influence the company's success and how it grows.
global footprint financial
"the company expanded its global footprint, strengthened its portfolio through multiple acquisitions"
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 22, 2026
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(414 ) 359-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number)
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13-e4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On June 22, 2026, A. O. Smith Corporation (“the Company”) issued a news release announcing that, effective July 1, 2026, Kevin J. Wheeler will retire as Executive Chairman of the Company. Mr. Wheeler will remain a member of the Board of Directors. Effective at the time of Mr.Wheeler’s retirement as Executive Chairman, Stephen M. Shafer will assume the role of Chairman of the Company. Mr. Shafer currently serves and will continue to serve as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director. Mr. Shafer joined the Company as President and Chief Operating Officer in March of 2024. He was named President and Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2025, and was elected a director of the Company on that same day. A copy of the Company’s news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
The following exhibit is being filed herewith:
(99.1) News Release of A. O. Smith Corporation, dated June 22, 2026
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XBRL document)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| A. O. SMITH CORPORATION | ||||||||||||||||||||
Date: June 22, 2026 | By: | /s/James F. Stern | ||||||||||||||||||
| James F. Stern | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, Strategy and Secretary | ||||||||||||||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Media Relations: Curt Selby 414-359-4191 curt.selby@aosmith.com | Investor Relations: Helen Gurholt 414-359-4157 hgurholt@aosmith.com | ||||||||||||
June 22, 2026
Kevin Wheeler to Retire as Executive Chairman;
President and CEO Stephen Shafer Named Chairman
Milwaukee, Wis. – A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a global leader in water technology, announced today that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire effective July 1. The company’s board of directors has elected Stephen Shafer, president and chief executive officer (CEO), as chairman upon Wheeler’s retirement. Wheeler will remain a member of the company’s board of directors.
“Kevin’s impact on A. O. Smith spans three decades,” said Chris Mapes, lead director of the board. “During his tenure, the company expanded its global footprint, strengthened its portfolio through multiple acquisitions and successfully navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining strong operational performance.”
Wheeler joined A. O. Smith in 1994 as a regional sales manager for the former Water Products Company and held various senior leadership roles across the business before becoming president and CEO in 2018 and chairman in 2020.
Shafer, who has served as president and CEO since July 2025, becomes the 11th CEO to assume the role of chairman in the company’s history. He joined A. O. Smith in 2024 as president and chief operating officer. As chairman, Shafer will lead the board of directors and continue to oversee the company’s global operations, strategic direction, profitability and shareholder return.
“Steve has demonstrated strong, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of our business and growth opportunities,” said Mapes. “His combined role as chairman and CEO will further strengthen alignment across our strategy, operations and long-term value creation.”
Before joining A. O. Smith, Shafer held roles of increasing responsibility at 3M Company across multiple business units in the U.S. and China. Earlier in his career, he worked at McKinsey & Co. and Ford Motor Company. Shafer serves on the boards of the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, as well as the Executive Advisory Board for WorkBoard Inc.
“As chairman, I will continue leading this outstanding company and team with focus and discipline,” said Shafer. “We remain committed to driving innovation, serving our customers and advancing our purpose to find a better way. I would also like to thank Kevin for his leadership and continued support through this transition and look forward to benefiting from his continued guidance as a member of our board going forward.”
About A. O. Smith
A. O. Smith Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and water management products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.
SOURCE: A. O. Smith Corporation
FAQ
What leadership change did A. O. Smith (AOS) announce on July 1, 2026?
A. O. Smith announced that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire from that role effective July 1, 2026. President and CEO Stephen Shafer will become chairman, combining the chairman and CEO positions while Wheeler remains on the board of directors.
Will Kevin Wheeler remain involved with A. O. Smith (AOS) after retiring as Executive Chairman?
Yes. Kevin Wheeler will retire as Executive Chairman effective July 1, 2026, but he will remain a member of A. O. Smith’s board of directors. This preserves his experience and long-term perspective on the company’s global expansion and acquisitions.
Who is Stephen Shafer and what roles does he hold at A. O. Smith (AOS)?
Stephen Shafer is A. O. Smith’s president and chief executive officer and a director. He joined in 2024 as president and COO, became president and CEO in July 2025, and will assume the chairman role upon Wheeler’s retirement, leading both management and the board.
Why did A. O. Smith (AOS) highlight Kevin Wheeler’s tenure in this leadership update?
The company emphasized Wheeler’s three-decade impact, noting expansion of its global footprint, portfolio strengthening through multiple acquisitions, and guidance through the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores his legacy and the importance of his continued service on the board after retiring as Executive Chairman.
How does A. O. Smith (AOS) describe Stephen Shafer’s leadership as he becomes chairman?
Lead director Chris Mapes said Shafer has shown strong, strategic leadership and a deep understanding of the business and growth opportunities. The combined chairman and CEO role is expected to align strategy, operations and long-term value creation across the global water technology business.
What experience does Stephen Shafer bring to A. O. Smith (AOS) from prior roles?
Before joining A. O. Smith, Shafer held roles of increasing responsibility at 3M Company in the U.S. and China, and earlier worked at McKinsey & Co. and Ford Motor Company. He also serves on several industry and regional business boards, adding external perspective to his leadership.