Kyle Chapman Succeeds Bob Chapman as Barry-Wehmiller CEO

Barry-Wehmiller (BW), a 140-year-old global leader in industrial and packaging automation, professional services, and life sciences technology with revenues exceeding $3.6 billion, announced today that Kyle Chapman has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. He will take on this role in addition to his current position as President. Bob Chapman, who has served as CEO since 1975, will continue to lead as Chairman of the Board and majority shareholder.

The Chapman family’s leadership spans decades. The company first came under family ownership in 1963, when William A. Chapman became President after joining in 1953. Following William’s sudden passing in 1976, his son Bob Chapman assumed leadership as President, later becoming CEO and Chairman. Reflecting on the transition, Bob shared his pride in seeing his son lead the company — something his own father was unable to witness due to his untimely passing.

Bob Chapman emphasized: “Our primary responsibility is to ensure a business model where people in our span of care experience meaningful work, feel safe and valued, and are confident in our shared future. Throughout Kyle’s time at Barry-Wehmiller, he has added dramatically to that vision. Through this transition, we will continue to work together as father and son, as two stewards of our 12,000-plus team members, to show the world that you can create human and economic vibrancy in harmony.”

Kyle Chapman, who brings more than 25 years of private equity and operational experience, began his career at Banc of America Capital Investors before co-founding BW Forsyth Partners in 2009 — now a thriving $850 million hybrid equity firm. He later acted as Strategic Financial Advisor to Barry-Wehmiller, served as Interim CFO in 2020, and was subsequently named President. With over a decade at BW, his appointment as CEO represents a natural step in his journey with the company.

“I’m honored to lead Barry-Wehmiller and grateful for the strong foundation my father and his leadership teams have built,” said Kyle Chapman. “I am committed to demonstrating that businesses can be both financially strong and people-centric. By showing that human-centered leadership and elite performance go hand-in-hand, we aim to inspire others to follow our model of building a better world through business.”

Kyle highlighted BW’s legacy of redefining business success, including:

• Over 145 acquisitions with a permanent capital approach.
• A resilient, diversified business model with recurring revenue streams.
• Proven double-digit annual growth for more than 35 years.
• The Truly Human Leadership model, which shifts the focus from management to leadership centered on care, empowerment, and excellence.
• Global recognition of BW’s leadership approach by experts such as Simon Sinek and Bill Ury, inclusion in the bestselling book Everybody Matters, and integration into teaching curricula at leading business schools.

“Ultimately, I want Barry-Wehmiller to stand as proof that companies can achieve world-class performance without sacrificing humanity. That’s the true definition of success,” Kyle Chapman concluded.