Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) names AMETEK CEO Zapico to board
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Rockwell Automation, Inc. expanded its board and added a new director. The board increased its size from ten to eleven directors effective April 16, 2026, and elected David A. Zapico, Chairman and CEO of AMETEK, Inc., to fill the new seat.
Zapico will serve in the director class whose term expires at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareowners and joined the Compensation and Talent Management Committee and the Board Composition and Corporate Governance Committee. He will receive standard non-employee director compensation, including shares of common stock valued at $92,055 under the 2026 Long-Term Incentives Plan. The company states there is no arrangement behind his selection and no related-party transactions requiring disclosure.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
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
Board size after change: 11 directors
Director equity grant value: $92,055 in common stock
Director term end: 2027 Annual Meeting
+5 more
8 metrics
Board size after change
11 directors
Board increased from ten to eleven effective April 16, 2026
Director equity grant value
$92,055 in common stock
Standard non-employee director grant under 2026 Long-Term Incentives Plan
Director term end
2027 Annual Meeting
Zapico’s board class term expires at 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareowners
Years at AMETEK
36 years
Zapico’s tenure at AMETEK in various leadership and management roles
Rockwell headcount
26,000 employees
Approximate number of employees as of fiscal year end 2025
Countries served
More than 100 countries
Global customer base as of fiscal year end 2025
Zapico CEO appointment year
2016
Elected Chief Executive Officer of AMETEK in 2016
Zapico Chairman appointment year
2017
Elected Chairman of AMETEK’s Board in 2017
Key Terms
Long-Term Incentives Plan, Compensation and Talent Management Committee, Board Composition and Corporate Governance Committee, Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, +2 more
6 terms
Long-Term Incentives Plan financial
"including shares of common stock with a value of $92,055 pursuant to our 2026 Long-Term Incentives Plan"
Compensation and Talent Management Committee financial
"Mr. Zapico was appointed as a member of the Compensation and Talent Management Committee"
Board Composition and Corporate Governance Committee financial
"and Board Composition and Corporate Governance Committee effective April 16, 2026"
Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K regulatory
"Mr. Zapico is not a party to any transaction required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K"
Emerging Growth Company regulatory
"405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Emerging Growth Company"
An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.
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
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 17, 2026 (April 15, 2026 )
________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
+1 (414 ) 382-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
________________
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:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | 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):
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. ☐
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. | ||||
On April 15, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (the “Company”) approved a resolution to approve an increase in the number of directors of the Company from ten to eleven effective April 16, 2026, in accordance with the Company’s By-Laws.
On April 15, 2026, the Board elected David A. Zapico as a director of the Company effective April 16, 2026, and designated him as a member of the class of directors with a term expiring at our 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareowners. Mr. Zapico was appointed as a member of the Compensation and Talent Management Committee and Board Composition and Corporate Governance Committee effective April 16, 2026.
In connection with his election to the Board, Mr. Zapico will receive the standard equity and cash compensation paid to our non-employee directors and new non-employee directors upon first election to the Board, including shares of common stock with a value of $92,055 pursuant to our 2026 Long-Term Incentives Plan. Director compensation is more fully described in our definitive Proxy Statement dated December 22, 2025 for our 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareowners.
There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Zapico and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as a director. Mr. Zapico is not a party to any transaction required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. | ||||
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
99 | Press Release of the Company dated April 17, 2026. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File, formatted in inline XBRL. | |||||||
SIGNATURE
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.
| ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC. | |||||||||||
| (Registrant) | |||||||||||
| By | /s/ REBECCA W. HOUSE | ||||||||||
| Rebecca W. House | |||||||||||
| Senior Vice President, Chief People and Legal Officer and Secretary | |||||||||||
Date: April 17, 2026
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
99 | Press Release of the Company dated April 17, 2026. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File, formatted in inline XBRL. | |||||||
Exhibit 99
1201 S. Second Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
USA
News Release
Rockwell Automation Elects David A. Zapico to Board of Directors
MILWAUKEE (April 17, 2026) – Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced that David A. Zapico was elected to its board of directors effective April 16, 2026. Zapico is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AMETEK, Inc., a leading global provider of industrial technology solutions.
“David brings deep industrial market knowledge and a proven track record of driving profitable growth through margin expansion and disciplined capital deployment,” said Blake Moret, chairman and chief executive officer of Rockwell. “As CEO of AMETEK, he has led a global industrial technology company through sustained growth, successful acquisitions, and continuous improvement. David’s experience and perspectives make him an excellent addition to our board.”
In his 36 years with AMETEK, Zapico has held many key leadership roles, including a variety of engineering and management positions. He was elected Chief Executive Officer in 2016 and Chairman of the Board in 2017. Prior to these roles, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; President, Electronic Instruments; Division Vice President of Process Instruments; and Vice President and General Manager of AMETEK Aerospace and Power Instruments Division.
Zapico holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Carnegie Mellon University.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2025. To learn more about how we are bringing Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.
Investor Relations contact:
Aijana Zellner
Head of Investor Relations and Market Strategy
+1 440-289-8439
azellner@rockwellautomation.com
Media contact:
Ed Moreland
Head of Government Affairs and Corporate Communications
+1 571-296-0391
edward.moreland@rockwellautomation.com
Page 1
FAQ
What board change did Rockwell Automation (ROK) announce in this 8-K?
Rockwell Automation expanded its board of directors from ten to eleven members and elected David A. Zapico to fill the new seat effective April 16, 2026. He joins as part of the director class with a term expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareowners.
Who is David A. Zapico, the new Rockwell Automation (ROK) director?
David A. Zapico is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AMETEK, Inc., a global industrial technology solutions provider. He has spent 36 years with AMETEK in multiple leadership roles and became CEO in 2016 and Chairman of the Board in 2017, bringing extensive industrial experience.
What committees will David A. Zapico serve on at Rockwell Automation (ROK)?
David A. Zapico was appointed to Rockwell Automation’s Compensation and Talent Management Committee and its Board Composition and Corporate Governance Committee. These assignments are effective April 16, 2026, aligning his responsibilities with executive pay, talent oversight, and overall board structure and governance matters at the company.
How will Rockwell Automation (ROK) compensate David A. Zapico as a director?
David A. Zapico will receive Rockwell Automation’s standard equity and cash compensation for non-employee directors. This includes shares of common stock valued at $92,055 granted under the company’s 2026 Long-Term Incentives Plan, along with other customary cash retainers described in its definitive proxy statement.
What does Rockwell Automation (ROK) highlight about its own business in the release?
Rockwell Automation describes itself as a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It reports employing approximately 26,000 people serving customers in more than 100 countries as of the end of fiscal year 2025, emphasizing its global industrial footprint.