---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-24-235948"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LECO"
cik: "0000059527"
company_name: "LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS INC"
filed_at: "2024-10-10T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-30T17:01:13.494763+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Lincoln Electric Executive Chair Mapes to retire Dec 31; CEO Hedlund becomes Chair

## Summary
- Christopher L. Mapes to retire as Executive Chair and board member on December 31, 2024.
- Steven B. Hedlund, President and CEO, elected Chair of the Board effective January 1, 2025.
- Hedlund will hold both Chair and CEO roles; Board retains independent Lead Director Curtis E. Espeland.
- Mapes' retirement is not due to any disagreement with the company on operations, policies, or practices.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-24-235948
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LECO
- cik: 0000059527
- company_name: LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS INC
- filed_at: 2024-10-10T23:59:59+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/59527/000119312524235948/0001193125-24-235948-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/59527/000119312524235948/d858774d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-235948
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-235948.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-235948.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Christopher L. Mapes departed as Executive Chair at LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS INC.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Executive Chair
  source text: Christopher L. Mapes, Executive Chair of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), will retire from his position as Executive Chair and a member of the Board on December 31, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/59527/000119312524235948/0001193125-24-235948-index.htm
- Executive change
  Steven B. Hedlund was elected as Chair of the Board at LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS INC.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Chair of the Board
  source text: The Board has elected Steven B. Hedlund, currently President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director, as Chair of the Board, effective as of January 1, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/59527/000119312524235948/0001193125-24-235948-index.htm

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