$MIDD (MIDDLEBY) — 8-K: Middleby Names Steve Spittle CEO Effective April 1, 2027; FitzGerald to Remain Through Transition

Middleby appointed Chief Commercial Officer Steve Spittle as President effective November 5, 2026, and CEO effective April 1, 2027, succeeding Tim FitzGerald, who has led the company since 2019 and will remain CEO until that date. Spittle, a 16-year Middleby veteran, will also join the Board on April 1, 2027, when FitzGerald steps down from the Board. The succession follows Middleby's portfolio transformation into a pure-play commercial foodservice company, including the first-quarter sale of a 51% stake in its Residential Kitchen business to 26North and the July spin-off of its Food Processing business as Midera.

Middleby appointed Chief Commercial Officer Steve Spittle as President effective November 5, 2026, and CEO effective April 1, 2027, succeeding Tim FitzGerald, who has led the company since 2019 and wi