Matthews International names Michael Whitehead as new CEO

August 11, 2026 4:30 PM EDT

Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ: MATW) has appointed Michael J. Whitehead as President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Joseph C. Bartolacci, who announced his intention to retire after more than two decades with the company.



Whitehead joins Matthews from Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LECO), where he most recently served as Executive Vice President and President, Americas Welding, overseeing a business unit with more than $2.5 billion in annual revenue.



He joined Lincoln Electric in 2005 as Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property, and held a series of roles including President, Global Automation, Cutting & Additive Solutions from 2019 through 2025, during which he said the business grew to over $1 billion in revenue. He also served as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, President of Lincoln Electric Canada, and R&D Leader.



Whitehead holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Hampshire School of Law.



"I am honored to have been selected as President and Chief Executive Officer of Matthews International and grateful for the Board's confidence," Whitehead said in a statement. "I look forward to working closely with the Board and our global team to sharpen our strategic focus, strengthen execution, and create sustainable long-term value for our shareholders."



Matthews International, headquartered in Pittsburgh, operates through two segments: Industrial Technologies and Memorialization. The company employs more than 4,300 people across 15 countries.


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