STIHL announces leadership transition

STIHL Inc. announced leadership changes as President and CEO Chris Keffer departed the company, effective immediately.

To ensure business continuity, Lorraine Amesbury Holder, senior vice president of operations, and Uwe Hirsch, senior vice president of finance, IT, purchasing and quality, will assume responsibility for overseeing the president’s duties on an interim basis. Terry Horan will continue serving as chairman and sole director of the STIHL Inc. board of directors. The company said the leadership team will work with STIHL management to maintain strategic priorities and support the company and its dealers during the transition.

Keffer joined the company in 2022 as senior vice president of sales and marketing and was appointed president and CEO in August 2023.

“We thank Chris for his leadership and many contributions during his four years with STIHL. His efforts helped move several key initiatives forward, and we wish him every success in his next chapter,” said Michael Traub, chairman, STIHL Executive Board. “STIHL remains firmly committed to the U.S. market, where we proudly employ more than 2,300 people and support over 10,000 independent STIHL Dealers across the country. As we move forward in our search for new leadership, our dedication to U.S. production, dealer support, and serving customers nationwide will remain unwavering.”