---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-22-127169"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GWW"
cik: "0000277135"
company_name: "W.W. GRAINGER, INC."
filed_at: "2022-12-15T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-21T04:24:41.628491+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Grainger names Nancy Berardinelli-Krantz as Chief Legal Officer; John Howard to retire

## Summary
- Nancy Berardinelli-Krantz appointed SVP and Chief Legal Officer effective Jan. 30, 2023.
- She joins from Eaton Corporation, where she was SVP and Deputy Chief Legal Officer.
- John L. Howard will retire in July 2023 after 23 years with the company.
- Howard to remain as SVP through July 31, 2023, receiving current salary and equity grants.
- Howard's retirement and Berardinelli-Krantz's appointment announced Dec. 15, 2022.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-22-127169
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GWW
- cik: 0000277135
- company_name: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
- filed_at: 2022-12-15T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277135/000110465922127169/0001104659-22-127169-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277135/000110465922127169/tm2232734d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-127169
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-127169.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-127169.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Nancy L. Berardinelli-Krantz was appointed as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at W.W. GRAINGER, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
  source text: Nancy L. Berardinelli-Krantz, age 45, will join the Company from Eaton Corporation, where she is Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief Legal Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277135/000110465922127169/0001104659-22-127169-index.htm
- Executive change
  John L. Howard changed role as Senior Vice President at W.W. GRAINGER, INC..
  - Action: step down as General Counsel
  - Role: Senior Vice President
  source text: Mr. Howard will step down as the Company’s General Counsel effective as of Ms. Berardinelli-Krantz’s employment start date
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277135/000110465922127169/0001104659-22-127169-index.htm
- Executive change
  John L. Howard departed as Senior Vice President at W.W. GRAINGER, INC..
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Senior Vice President
  source text: John L. Howard, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (the “Company”), notified the Company of his intention to retire.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277135/000110465922127169/0001104659-22-127169-index.htm

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