---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000042888-24-000008"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GGG"
cik: "0000042888"
company_name: "GRACO INC"
filed_at: "2024-02-16T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-06T00:28:56.242253+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Graco appoints J. Kevin Gilligan as Board Chair; two directors retiring in April 2024

## Summary
- J. Kevin Gilligan appointed Chair of the Board and Governance Committee effective Feb 16, 2024.
- Lee R. Mitau, aged 75, will retire at the April 26, 2024 Annual Meeting per governance guidelines.
- R. William Van Sant will also retire at the Annual Meeting and will not stand for re-election.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000042888-24-000008
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GGG
- cik: 0000042888
- company_name: GRACO INC
- filed_at: 2024-02-16T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288824000008/0000042888-24-000008-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288824000008/ggg-20240216.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000042888-24-000008
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000042888-24-000008.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000042888-24-000008.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Lee R. Mitau departed as Director at GRACO INC.
  - Action: will retire
  - Role: Director
  source text: Mr. Mitau reached age 75 in October 2023, and therefore will retire from the Board effective as of the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2024 (“Annual Meeting”), in accordance with the retirement standards set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288824000008/0000042888-24-000008-index.htm
- Executive change
  R. William Van Sant departed as Director at GRACO INC.
  - Action: will retire
  - Role: Director
  source text: R. William Van Sant, whose current term as a director on the Board will expire as of the Annual Meeting, will also retire from the Board effective as of such date and will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288824000008/0000042888-24-000008-index.htm
- Executive change
  J. Kevin Gilligan was appointed as Chair of the Board at GRACO INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chair of the Board
  source text: On February 16, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Graco Inc. (the “Company”) appointed J. Kevin Gilligan as Chair of the Board and as Chair of the Governance Committee, in each case effective as of such date.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/42888/000004288824000008/0000042888-24-000008-index.htm

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