Pittsburgh-based Matthews International Corp. announced its president and CEO Joseph C. Bartolacci will retire after nearly three decades with the company.
Bartolacci has served as the company’s CEO for 20 years. The board of directors said they appreciated Bartolacci’s time at the helm and his leadership.
“I cannot thank Joe enough for his service to Matthews and also to me as I transitioned into the Chairman’s role at the Company,” Michael Nauman, chairman of the board, said. “His 29 years at Matthews and 20 years as CEO have been marked by growth and his personal passion and strong integrity have helped Matthews through many challenging times to become a much better organization. Joe will be missed but he has left us in a strong position and for that I am grateful.”
Bartolacci originally joined Matthews in 1997 as the company’s general counsel. Over the past 29 years, he has held various leadership positions, and was named president and CEO in 2006. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a memorialization-focused company into a diversified global enterprise serving customers across memorialization, industrial technologies, and brand solutions markets. Over the past two decades, the company has completed more than 60 acquisitions, invested in technology and innovation, and grown from a $700 million annual revenue organization to a business approaching $2 billion in revenue.
“It has been a privilege to serve Matthews for nearly three decades and to work alongside the talented team members who have made our growth and commercial success possible,” Bartolacci said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that the Company is well-positioned to continue executing its strategy and creating value for all stakeholders.”
The board said it has initiated a succession process, and that Bartolacci would continue to support the transition of the new president and CEO through Jan. 1, 2027.