Middleby CEO Timothy FitzGerald to Step Down; Steven Spittle Named Successor
The Middleby Corporation said Chief Executive Officer Timothy J. FitzGerald will leave the CEO role and the board effective March 31, 2027, according to an 8-K filed Thursday. The board promoted Chief Commercial Officer Steven P. Spittle, 45, to president effective immediately and to CEO effective April 1, 2027, when he will also join the board.
During the transition, FitzGerald will keep his base salary and benefits (other than new equity awards) and help Spittle with the handoff. On departure he becomes eligible for severance under his employment agreement and pro-rated accelerated vesting of outstanding restricted stock units under his award agreements.
Spittle has been chief commercial officer since February 2021 after more than a decade at Middleby, including group president of Pitco Frialator and G.S. Blodgett and earlier president of Pitco. His new employment agreement sets an annual base salary of $850,000 effective immediately, and he remains eligible for the company’s management incentive bonus programs.
Leadership successions at industrial compounders are watched for continuity on acquisition integration and margin discipline. Naming an internal commercial leader months ahead of the handoff is meant to reduce execution risk into 2027.
Why it matters
Middleby’s story for retail investors has long centered on kitchen-equipment brands, aftermarket mix and M&A. A planned CEO change with an internal successor and a published compensation floor gives the market a clear timetable without an abrupt gap in the C-suite.
By the numbers
- FitzGerald exit as CEO and director: March 31, 2027
- Spittle becomes CEO: April 1, 2027
- Spittle base salary: $850,000
- Spittle age: 45
- Spittle CCO since: February 2021
Sources
- The Middleby Corporation Form 8-K Item 5.02, filed Nov. 5, 2026 (accession 0001104659-26-123057)
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