---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000042888-23-000054"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GGG"
cik: "0000042888"
company_name: "GRACO INC"
filed_at: "2023-12-05T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T18:21:02.597811+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.45
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.45
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Graco announces David J. Thompson as President, Contractor Equipment Div; Dale Johnson to retire in Q1 2025

## Summary
- David J. Thompson succeeds Dale D. Johnson as President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division, effective January 1, 2024.
- Dale Johnson becomes Chief Commercial Development Officer on January 1, 2024, to support leadership transition.
- Johnson plans to retire from Graco in the first quarter of 2025 after nearly 50 years at the company.
- Thompson previously served as VP of Engineering, Contractor Equipment Division since 2021, joined Graco in 1988.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000042888-23-000054
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GGG
- cik: 0000042888
- company_name: GRACO INC
- filed_at: 2023-12-05T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.45
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.45
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288823000054/0000042888-23-000054-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288823000054/ggg-20231201.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000042888-23-000054
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000042888-23-000054.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000042888-23-000054.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Dale D. Johnson departed as President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division at GRACO INC.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division
  source text: Dale D. Johnson, the Company's President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division, has informed the Company of his intention to retire from the Company in the first quarter of 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288823000054/0000042888-23-000054-index.htm
- Executive change
  David J. Thompson was appointed as President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division at GRACO INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division
  source text: the Company has appointed David J. Thompson to succeed Mr. Johnson as President, Worldwide Contractor Equipment Division, effective January 1, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288823000054/0000042888-23-000054-index.htm
- Executive change
  Dale D. Johnson changed role as Chief Commercial Development Officer at GRACO INC.
  - Action: assume the role of
  - Role: Chief Commercial Development Officer
  source text: Mr. Johnson will assume the role of Chief Commercial Development Officer on January 1, 2024
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288823000054/0000042888-23-000054-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.