LSI Industries (LYTS) CFO who led $500M in deals plans exit

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

LSI Industries Inc. (LYTS) announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer James E. Galeese plans to retire effective August 31, 2027, after more than a decade with the company. The company states that his retirement is not due to any disagreement regarding operations, policies, or practices.

Galeese will remain CFO for about one year following the August 19, 2026 notice, providing an extended transition period while LSI conducts a formal search for his successor, considering internal and external candidates. LSI highlights that, since becoming CFO in 2017, Galeese helped lead the deployment of more than $500 million across four strategic acquisitions. The company, which employs approximately 3,000 people at 23 manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, expects Galeese to continue supporting LSI on an advisory basis after his tenure as CFO.

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

CFO retirement effective date: August 31, 2027 Strategic acquisitions deployment: more than $500 million Number of strategic acquisitions: 4 +5 more

8 metrics

CFO retirement effective date August 31, 2027 Planned retirement date of Executive Vice President and CFO James E. Galeese

Strategic acquisitions deployment more than $500 million Capital deployed across four strategic acquisitions during Galeese’s tenure as CFO

Number of strategic acquisitions 4 Strategic acquisitions completed during Galeese’s tenure as CFO

Employees approximately 3,000 Company employment across U.S. and Canada operations

Manufacturing plants 23 Number of manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada

Notice date August 19, 2026 Date Galeese notified the Board of his planned retirement

Press release date August 20, 2026 Date of LSI’s press release announcing the CFO’s planned retirement

Service as CFO since 2017 Year James E. Galeese was named Chief Financial Officer

Key Terms

forward-looking statements, executive search firm, returns-focused approach to capital deployment, value compounder, +1 more

5 terms

forward-looking statements regulatory

"This press release contains statements that are “forward-looking statements” as defined under U.S."

Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

executive search firm other

"The search will be led by the LSI Executive Committee, in consultation with a global executive search firm"

returns-focused approach to capital deployment financial

"commitment to innovation, and a returns-focused approach to capital deployment position the business"

value compounder financial

"position the business to become a meaningful value compounder over time"

executive committee other

"The search will be led by the LSI Executive Committee, in consultation with a global"

An executive committee is a small group of top leaders within an organization responsible for making important decisions and setting strategic direction. Think of it as the company's steering team, guiding the overall course and ensuring management actions align with long-term goals. For investors, understanding the executive committee helps gauge how decisions are made at the highest level and how leadership might influence the company's future performance.

FAQ

What executive change did LSI Industries (LYTS) announce on August 19–20, 2026?

LSI Industries announced that CFO James E. Galeese plans to retire effective August 31, 2027. He will remain Executive Vice President and CFO for about one year to support an orderly transition and then serve in an advisory capacity.

When will LSI Industries (LYTS) appoint a new CFO to replace James E. Galeese?

LSI intends to name a successor to CFO James E. Galeese during the first half of calendar 2027. A formal search process, led by the Executive Committee with a global executive search firm, will consider both internal and external candidates.

Did LSI Industries (LYTS) indicate any disagreement related to the CFO’s planned retirement?

LSI stated that Mr. Galeese’s retirement is not the result of any disagreement with the company regarding operations, policies, or practices. The transition is presented as a planned retirement with an extended period for leadership succession.

What strategic impact has CFO James E. Galeese had on LSI Industries (LYTS)?

Since 2017, Galeese helped lead deployment of more than $500 million across four strategic acquisitions. LSI describes these transactions as expanding its addressable markets in high-value, complementary adjacencies and contributing to multi-year compounded, profitable growth.

How large is LSI Industries (LYTS) in terms of employees and facilities?

LSI employs approximately 3,000 people at 23 manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada. The company manufactures non-residential indoor and outdoor lighting, graphics, and display solutions and supports large-scale rollouts with comprehensive project management services.

What business does LSI Industries (LYTS) focus on?

LSI is a U.S.-based manufacturer of advanced lighting, graphics, and display solutions across strategic vertical markets. Its American-made products include non-residential lighting and custom displays that support retail branding and enhance consumer experience, plus project management for large-scale deployments.

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Understanding 8-K Material Events →

Available on EDGAR 08/20/2026 - 08:00 AM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 08/20/2026 - 08:00 AM Learn about SEC filing dates

false 0000763532 0000763532 2026-08-19 2026-08-19

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 19, 2026

LSI INDUSTRIES INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Ohio		01-13375		31-0888951
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

10000 Alliance Road, Cincinnati, Ohio	45242
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code           (513) 793-3200

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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 communications 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 13e-4(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
Common Stock, no par value	LYTS	NASDAQ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17CFR §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 ☐

Item5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On August 19, 2026, James E. Galeese, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of LSI Industries Inc., an Ohio corporation ("LSI" or the "Company"), notified the Board of Directors of his planned retirement from his positions with LSI and its subsidiaries, effective August 31, 2027 (the "Retirement Date"). Mr. Galeese’s retirement is not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to its operations, policies or practices. Mr. Galeese will remain in his current role as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for approximately one year following this notification, providing the Company with an extended transition period to conduct an orderly search for his successor. A copy of LSI's press release announcing the retirement is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		LSI Press Release dated August 20, 2026
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within 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.

LSI INDUSTRIES INC.

BY:/s/ Thomas A. Caneris

Thomas A. Caneris

Executive Vice President – 

Human Resources and General Counsel

Dated: August 20, 2026

Exhibit 99.1

 

LSI INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER RETIREMENT,

INITIATES FINANCE LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION PLAN

CINCINNATI, August 20, 2026 -- LSI Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: LYTS, “LSI” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. based manufacturer of commercial lighting and display solutions, today announced that James E. Galeese, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will retire on August 31, 2027, after more than a decade of service to the Company. Mr. Galeese intends to support LSI on an advisory basis at the conclusion of his tenure as CFO.

Ahead of the planned retirement, LSI has initiated a formal search process for his successor. The search will be led by the LSI Executive Committee, in consultation with a global executive search firm, and will consider both internal and external candidates. LSI intends to name a successor to Mr. Galeese during the first half of calendar year 2027.

Since being named CFO in 2017, Mr. Galeese has served an instrumental role in its transformation from an emerging lighting and display solutions provider into a market-leading, integrated retail solutions platform with a multi-year record track record of compounded, profitable growth. During his tenure, Galeese helped lead the deployment of more than $500 million across four strategic acquisitions that served to expand LSI's addressable markets within high-value, complementary adjacencies, culminating in significant value creation for shareholders, consistent with the vision of President & CEO James A. Clark.

"On behalf of our employees, customers, partners, and shareholders, I want to thank Jim for his many contributions to LSI over the past ten years,” stated James A. Clark, President and CEO. “Jim has led with integrity, strategic insight, disciplined financial stewardship, and a commercially minded approach that have been instrumental in shaping the company we are today. We are grateful for the strong foundation he leaves behind as we enter our next chapter of growth and value creation. We look forward to collaborating with Jim to ensure a seamless transition while we conduct a comprehensive search for his successor in the months ahead."

“Serving as CFO of LSI has been a great privilege - I’m proud of the strategy we’ve developed, the business we’ve built, and the results we’ve delivered during this period,” said James E. Galeese. "Under Jim Clark's leadership, LSI is entering an exciting phase of expansion. Our one-stop suite of retail branding solutions, long-standing relationships with leading retail brands, recurring revenue streams, commitment to innovation, and a returns-focused approach to capital deployment position the business to become a meaningful value compounder over time. I look forward to working closely with our executive committee to identify my successor, thereby ensuring a seamless transition ahead of my planned retirement.”

ABOUT LSI INDUSTRIES

Headquartered in Cincinnati, LSI is a publicly held company traded over the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the symbol LYTS. The company manufactures advanced lighting, graphics, and display solutions across strategic vertical markets. The company’s American-made products, which include non-residential indoor and outdoor lighting, print graphics, digital graphics, refrigerated and custom displays, help create value for customer brands and enhance the consumer experience. LSI also provides comprehensive project management services in support of large-scale product rollouts. The company employs approximately 3,000 people at 23 manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada. Additional information about LSI is available at www.lsicorp.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements that are “forward-looking statements” as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations or projections regarding future events and speak only as of the date we make them. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors (many beyond our control) that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or from our current expectations or projections.

For further information on factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or from our current expectations or projections, please refer to our public filings, including the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT

Noel Ryan or Fred Buonocore
720.778.2415
LYTS@vallumadvisors.com

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Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents

Press Releases

• EX-99.1 EXHIBIT 99.1 9.2 KB

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA 3.5 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE 11.2 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE 15.0 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE 11.3 KB