Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. has announced that its Board of Directors has elected John M. Stropki as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Stropki, named President and Chief Executive Officer in June, succeeds Anthony A. Massaro. Mr. Massaro will be retiring at the end of the month after more than eleven years with the Company. In keeping with company policy, Mr. Massaro is also retiring from the Company’s Board. “We are very pleased to name John as Chairman,” said Harold Adams, a Lincoln director. “His field and management experience, his energy and his commitment to the Company will serve Lincoln well as we expand our position around the world.”
Mr. Stropki began his Lincoln career 35 years ago, working in the company’s Cleveland factory while he was an engineering student at Purdue University. He joined the company after graduation as a sales trainee and rose through the sales organization. He was named Executive Vice President and President, North America in 1996, and was elected to the Board of Directors in 1998. He served as Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Lincoln’s North America, Latin America, Europe and Russia, Africa and the Middle East subsidiaries, from May 2003 to June 2004. Mr. Stropki earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Purdue and also has an MBA degree from Indiana University.
Lincoln Electric designs, developments and manufactures arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems and plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment.
