---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-25-024210"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SCL"
cik: "0000094049"
company_name: "STEPAN CO"
filed_at: "2025-02-20T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-26T10:09:57.639219+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.3
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.3
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Stepan board member Edward Wehmer to retire at 2025 annual meeting; Dearth named Lead Independent Director

## Summary
- Edward J. Wehmer to retire from Stepan Company Board effective April 29, 2025, after 22 years of service.
- Wehmer served as Lead Independent Director since 2016 and Audit Committee Chair from 2007-2023.
- Board size to reduce from 8 to 7 directors upon his retirement.
- Randall S. Dearth to succeed Wehmer as Lead Independent Director.
- Wehmer's retirement is not due to any disagreement with the company.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-25-024210
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SCL
- cik: 0000094049
- company_name: STEPAN CO
- filed_at: 2025-02-20T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.3
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.3
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/94049/000095017025024210/0000950170-25-024210-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/94049/000095017025024210/scl-20250220.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-25-024210
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-25-024210.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-25-024210.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Randall S. Dearth changed role as Lead Independent Director at STEPAN CO.
  - Action: succeed
  - Role: Lead Independent Director
  source text: Effective upon Mr. Wehmer’s retirement from the Board, the size of the Company’s Board will be reduced from eight to seven directors and Randall S. Dearth will succeed Mr. Wehmer as Lead Independent Director.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/94049/000095017025024210/0000950170-25-024210-index.htm
- Executive change
  Edward J. Wehmer departed as Lead Independent Director at STEPAN CO.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Lead Independent Director
  source text: On February 18, 2025, Edward J. Wehmer, a member of Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Stepan Company (the “Company”), notified the Board of his decision to retire from the Board, effective as of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”), which is scheduled for April 29, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/94049/000095017025024210/0000950170-25-024210-index.htm

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