---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001558370-22-002369"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ECL"
cik: "0000031462"
company_name: "ECOLAB INC."
filed_at: "2022-02-28T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-27T03:51:44.792102+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Ecolab's Executive Chairman Douglas Baker to retire; CEO Christophe Beck to become Chair

## Summary
- Douglas M. Baker, Jr. will step down from the board after his term ends at the 2022 Annual Meeting on May 5, 2022.
- Current President and CEO Christophe Beck will become Chairman of the Board effective upon Baker's departure.
- Jeff Ettinger will remain Lead Independent Director.
- Baker's retirement is a planned succession; the board expressed confidence in Beck's leadership.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001558370-22-002369
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ECL
- cik: 0000031462
- company_name: ECOLAB INC.
- filed_at: 2022-02-28T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31462/000155837022002369/0001558370-22-002369-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31462/000155837022002369/ecl-20220228x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-22-002369
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-22-002369.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-22-002369.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Christophe Beck was elected as Chairman of the Board at ECOLAB INC..
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: Ecolab announced that its board has elected Christophe Beck, president and chief executive officer, and a member of the board of the directors, to serve as chairman of the board, in addition to his current responsibilities, effective upon the expiration of Mr. Baker's term.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31462/000155837022002369/0001558370-22-002369-index.htm
- Executive change
  Douglas M. Baker, Jr. departed as Executive Chairman at ECOLAB INC..
  - Action: step down
  - Role: Executive Chairman
  source text: Douglas M. Baker, Jr., executive chairman of the board of directors of Ecolab, has informed the Company that he will step down from the board following the expiration of his current term at the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 5, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31462/000155837022002369/0001558370-22-002369-index.htm

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