---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000105132-22-000010"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WDFC"
cik: "0000105132"
company_name: "WD 40 CO"
filed_at: "2022-03-16T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-26T22:14:25.839013+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge to retire Aug 31, 2022; Steve Brass appointed as successor

## Summary
- Garry Ridge retires as CEO effective Aug 31, 2022; appointed to non-executive Chairman until Dec 13, 2022, then Chairman Emeritus.
- Steve Brass, current President and COO, becomes CEO on Sept 1, 2022 and joins Board effective March 15, 2022.
- Transition Agreement provides Ridge monthly pay of $34,606 from Sept 2022 to June 2023, plus RSUs of $1,000,000 vesting June 30, 2023.
- Ridge will serve as consultant from Jan 3 to June 30, 2023; 36 months COBRA coverage at company expense.
- Board to nominate Gregory Sandfort (lead independent director) as board chair to succeed Ridge.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000105132-22-000010
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WDFC
- cik: 0000105132
- company_name: WD 40 CO
- filed_at: 2022-03-16T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/105132/000010513222000010/0000105132-22-000010-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/105132/000010513222000010/wdfc-20220311x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000105132-22-000010
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000105132-22-000010.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000105132-22-000010.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Garry O. Ridge retired as Chief Executive Officer at WD 40 CO.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On March 16, 2022, WD-40 Company (the “Company”) announced the retirement of Garry O. Ridge as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company, effective as of August 31, 2022
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/105132/000010513222000010/0000105132-22-000010-index.htm
- Executive change
  Steven A. Brass was appointed as Director at WD 40 CO.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: his appointment to the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”), effective March 15, 2022
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/105132/000010513222000010/0000105132-22-000010-index.htm
- Executive change
  Steven A. Brass was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at WD 40 CO.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: The Company also announced the appointment of Steven A. Brass, currently the President and Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) of the Company, as CEO of the Company, effective as of September 1, 2022
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/105132/000010513222000010/0000105132-22-000010-index.htm

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