Lakeland Industries (NASDAQ: LAKE) appoints Lee Rudow as independent board member
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Lakeland Industries, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Lee D. Rudow as an independent Class I director, effective April 9, 2026. His term will run until the company’s 2026 annual stockholder meeting, when he will stand for election by stockholders.
With his addition, the Board increases from seven to eight members, seven of whom are independent. Rudow, currently Chief Executive Officer of Transcat, Inc. until his planned retirement on March 28, 2026, brings more than three decades of experience in industrial markets, including leading growth and acquisition strategies. He will receive Lakeland’s standard non-employee director compensation and be eligible for equity awards and expense reimbursement.
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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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 February 20, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Lakeland Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Lee D. Rudow as a Class I director of the Company, effective April 9, 2026. As a Class I director, Mr. Rudow’s term will expire at the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which time he will stand for election by the Company’s stockholders. In connection with such appointment, the Board determined that Mr. Rudow is independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards. With this appointment, the Board increased the size of the Board from seven members to eight members. The Board determined not to appoint Mr. Rudow to any Board committees at this time.
Mr. Rudow has served as Chief Executive Officer of Transcat, Inc. (“Transcat”), a leading provider of accredited calibration, reliability, maintenance optimization, quality and compliance, validation, Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), and pipette services, since July 2013, previously serving as Chief Operating Officer of Transcat beginning in November 2011. Mr. Rudow announced his retirement from Transcat, effective March 28, 2026.
In connection with Mr. Rudow’s appointment to the Board, and consistent with the Board’s current compensation arrangements for non-employee directors as described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2025, Mr. Rudow will be eligible to receive the Company’s standard annual retainer for non-employee directors. Mr. Rudow also will be eligible to receive equity awards as part of the Company’s standard compensation for non-employee directors, as well as reimbursement of expenses.
There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Rudow and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as a director of the Company. There are no transactions in which Mr. Rudow has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On February 23, 2026, the Company issued a press release, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, announcing that the Company’s Board has appointed Lee D. Rudow to the Board, effective April 9, 2026.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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Description |
99.1 |
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Press release, dated February 23, 2026 |
104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Form 8-K”) under Item 7.01 (including Exhibit 99.1) is deemed to be “furnished” and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. The information set forth in Item 7.01 shall not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in this Form 8-K that is required to be disclosed solely to satisfy the requirements of Regulation FD.
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.
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LAKELAND INDUSTRIES, INC. |
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February 23, 2026 |
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/s/ James M. Jenkins |
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James M. Jenkins |
Exhibit 99.1
Lakeland Fire + Safety Appoints Lee D. Rudow to the Board of Directors
Current CEO of Transcat and Veteran Industrial Executive to Advance Operational and M&A Strategies
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., February 23, 2026 – Lakeland Industries, Inc. ("Lakeland Fire + Safety" or "Lakeland") (NASDAQ: LAKE), a leading global manufacturer of protective clothing and apparel for industry, healthcare and first responders, today announced the appointment of Lee D. Rudow to its Board of Directors, effective April 9, 2026. Mr. Rudow’s appointment as an independent director increases the total number of board members to 8, with 7 independent directors.
Lee D. Rudow has more than 33 years of experience working with startups, private equity-funded and large industrial companies, serving in sales, sales management, and executive leadership positions. Mr. Rudow is currently Chief Executive Officer of Nasdaq-listed Transcat, Inc., a leading provider of mission critical, accredited calibration services and equipment, for over 14 years, delivering unprecedented growth and transformative acquisitions during his tenure highlighted by 67 consecutive quarters of YOY service revenue growth. Mr. Rudow announced his retirement from Transcat, effective March 28, 2026.
Previously, Mr. Rudow served as Vice President in various capacities for SIMCO Electronics, Inc., an independent provider of global calibration, repair, and software solutions. Prior to that he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Davis Calibration, Inc., served as President and Chief Executive Officer of its related business and predecessor, Davis Inotek Corp., and served as President of Davis Instruments Corp.
“Lee brings invaluable business and strategic M&A integration experience in the industrial markets with a strong track record of execution across both organic growth and acquisition-driven strategies,” said Jim Jenkins, President and CEO of Lakeland Industries. “His unique perspective will accelerate Lakeland’s footprint as we continue to scale our Fire and Industrial platforms globally and we welcome him to the Board. On a personal note, it is a privilege to work alongside Lee again after our tenure together at Transcat where we executed a similar playbook. He joins us at an opportune time with his firsthand understanding of the execution needed for our current business strategy and his experience as a CEO, guiding global strategy, operational excellence, cost reduction, risk management, and corporate governance, which will further contribute to our Board. We look forward to his insights and contributions as the management team strives to create sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders.”
Mr. Rudow added, “It is truly an honor to join Lakeland Fire + Safety at such an important inflection point in building a premier global fire brand with a Head-to-Toe portfolio of brands that protect the world’s workers, first responders, and communities during the most critical situations. I believe I can offer a fresh perspective on the company’s focus on expanding its portfolio and capabilities that will position Lakeland for success in the quarters and years to come. I am eager to work closely with Jim and the Board as they steward the company along its journey of operational execution.”
About Lakeland Fire + Safety
Lakeland Fire + Safety manufactures and sells a comprehensive line of fire services and industrial protective clothing and accessories for the industrial and first responder markets. In addition, we provide decontamination, repair and rental services that complement our fire services portfolio. Our products are sold globally by our in-house sales teams, our customer service group, and authorized independent sales representatives to a strategic global network of selective fire and industrial distributors and wholesale partners. Our authorized distributors supply end users across various industries, including integrated oil, chemical/petrochemical, automobile, transportation, steel, glass, construction, smelting, cleanroom, janitorial, pharmaceutical, and high-tech electronics manufacturers, as well as scientific, medical laboratories, and the utilities industry. In addition, we supply federal, state and local governmental agencies and departments, including fire and law enforcement, airport crash rescue units, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control. Internationally, we sell to a mix of end-users directly and to industrial distributors, depending on the particular country and market. In addition to the United States, sales are made into more than 50 foreign countries, the majority of which were into China, the European Economic Community ("EEC"), Canada, Chile, Argentina, Commonwealth of Independent States (“CIS”) Region, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, India, Uruguay, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
For more information about Lakeland, please visit the Company's website at www.lakeland.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release contains estimates, predictions, opinions, goals and other "forward-looking statements" as that phrase is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, without limitation, references to the Company's predictions or expectations of future business or financial performance as well as its goals and objectives for future operations, financial and business trends, business prospects, and management's expectations for earnings, revenues, expenses, inventory levels, capital levels, liquidity levels, or other future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations, including without limitation our M&A strategy. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address Lakeland's expectations of sources or uses for capital, or which express the Company's expectation for the future with respect to financial performance or operating strategies, can be identified as forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions as described from time to time in press releases and Forms 8-K, registration statements, quarterly and annual reports and other reports and filings filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or made by management. As a result, there can be no assurance that Lakeland's future results will not be materially different from those described herein as "believed," "projected," "planned," "intended," "anticipated," "can," "estimated" or "expected," or other words which reflect the current view of the Company with respect to future events. We caution readers that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company hereby expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which such statement is based, except as may be required by law.
Investor Relations
Chris Tyson
Executive Vice President
MZ Group - MZ North America
949-491-8235
LAKE@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us
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Filing Exhibits & Attachments
2 documentsPress Releases
