Stihl has announced that Chris Keffer, STIHL Inc. President and CEO departed the company, effective immediately. To ensure continuity of the business in the interim, Lorraine Amesbury Holder, SVP of Operations, and Uwe Hirsch, SVP of Finance, IT, Purchasing, and Quality will assume responsibility for overseeing the President’s duties.

Terry Horan will continue serving as the Chairman and Sole Director of the Stihl Inc. Board of Directors. Together, they will work closely with leadership teams to maintain alignment on strategic priorities and support Stihl Inc. and Stihl dealers through this transition.

Keffer joined Stihl Inc. in 2022 as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In August of 2023 he was appointed President and CEO.

“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.”