Actuant Corp., a Menomonee Falls-based diversified industrial company, announced today that former president and chief executive officer Robert Arzbaecher is returning to the role effective immediately. He will serve in that position in the interim while the company searches for a new president and CEO.
Arzbaecher succeeds Mark Goldstein, who resigned from the company and the board to pursue other interests.
“We are pleased to be able to call on Bob to return to the position of CEO,” said Robert Peterson, lead independent director of Actuant. “The nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors, which is comprised of independent directors, will lead the search for a new president and CEO. During that search process, which will include both internal and external candidates, Bob will provide stability and direction for the company. I want to thank Mark for his dedication and service to Actuant over the past 14 years including the past two years as CEO during a challenging end market environment. We wish him much success in his future endeavors.”
Arzbaecher was president and chief executive officer of Actuant since its founding in August 2000 until his retirement in January 2014. He became chairman of the board of directors in 2001, a position he continues to hold.
“Actuant has a long history of generating substantial free cash flow and servicing customers by providing market leading products and services to a variety of end markets,” Arzbaecher said. “While the company has been taking steps to create growth and improve margins, there is more we can do. I am very excited to re-engage with Actuant employees and leaders to position the company as a world class supplier to our diverse global customers and as a best-in-class diversified industrial investment. I look forward to immersing myself back into the business over the next 45 days, and reconnecting with investors on our year-end earnings call on September 30 and at our annual investor day on October 7.”
