---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000066570-24-000013"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "MSA"
cik: "0000066570"
company_name: "MSA Safety Inc"
filed_at: "2024-02-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-05T21:17:17.085916+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# MSA Safety elects Steve Blanco CEO effective May 10, 2024; Vartanian retires as CEO

## Summary
- Steve Blanco, 57, currently President and COO, to succeed Nish Vartanian as CEO effective May 10, 2024.
- Blanco elected to Board immediately; Vartanian will remain a director after retirement.
- Blanco's compensation: $900k base salary, 90% target annual incentive under Executive Incentive Plan.
- Blanco received MEIP grant valued at $2.4M on Feb 20, 2024; target annual equity of $3.79M for 2025.
- Vartanian, 64, a 39-year MSA veteran, led company through record sales and profitability as CEO since 2018.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000066570-24-000013
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: MSA
- cik: 0000066570
- company_name: MSA Safety Inc
- filed_at: 2024-02-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66570/000006657024000013/0000066570-24-000013-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66570/000006657024000013/msa-20240222.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000066570-24-000013
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000066570-24-000013.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000066570-24-000013.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Nishan J. Vartanian departed as Chief Executive Officer at MSA Safety Inc.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Nishan J. Vartanian’s announcement to the Board on February 21, 2024, of his intention to retire as Chief Executive Officer in May 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66570/000006657024000013/0000066570-24-000013-index.htm
- Executive change
  Steven C. Blanco was elected as Chief Executive Officer at MSA Safety Inc.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On February 21, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of MSA Safety Incorporated (the “Company”) elected Steven C. Blanco as Chief Executive Officer, to be effective May 10, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66570/000006657024000013/0000066570-24-000013-index.htm
- Executive change
  Steven C. Blanco was elected as Director at MSA Safety Inc.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Director
  source text: The Board also elected Mr. Blanco as a director on the Board, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66570/000006657024000013/0000066570-24-000013-index.htm

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