UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On February 20, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Ecolab Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Christophe Beck to the position of President, Darrell R. Brown to the position of Co-Chief Operating Officer – Global Markets, and Gregory B. Cook to the position of Co-Chief Operating Officer – Global Businesses, each effective April 1, 2026.
Mr. Beck, age 58, currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, positions he has held since 2022 and 2021, respectively, and will continue to serve in these positions in addition to his new role. Over the past five years, Mr. Beck has served in senior executive leadership roles at the Company, including as Chief Executive Officer and President and, previously, as President and Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Brown, age 62, currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, positions he has held since 2022. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and President – Global Industrial from 2019 to 2022 and as Executive Vice President and President of Ecolab’s Energy Services Division from 2018 to 2019. During his 24-year tenure at Ecolab, Mr. Brown has held several leadership positions within the Company.
Mr. Cook, age 57, has served as Executive Vice President and President – Institutional Group since 2023. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager – Global Institutional from 2021 to 2023 and as Senior Vice President and General Manager – Global Pest from 2020 to 2021. During his 28-year tenure at Ecolab, Mr. Cook has held key finance, sales and general management roles across Food & Beverage, Textile Care and Institutional.
Following the assumption of his new position, Mr. Brown will relocate from Naperville, Illinois, United States to Sydney, Australia, and will receive relocation benefits in accordance with an International Relocation Letter Agreement. Upon the completion of his relocation, Mr. Brown will receive an annualized base salary of AU$1,300,000 (equivalent to $876,200 based on the exchange rate of AU$1 to $0.674) and will be eligible to receive an annual cash incentive award with a target award opportunity of 105% of his base salary. He will also be eligible to receive an annual long-term incentive award valued at $2,500,000 when the Company next grants such awards.
Upon assuming his new position, Mr. Cook will receive an annualized base salary of $750,000 and will be eligible to receive an annual cash incentive award with a target award opportunity of 105% of his base salary. He will also be eligible to receive an annual long-term incentive award valued at $2,200,000 when the Company next grants such awards.
There are no transactions between each of Mr. Beck, Mr. Brown and Mr. Cook (and their respective immediate family) and the Company that require disclosure in accordance with Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
On February 25, 2026, the Company issued a News Release announcing the appointments of Mr. Brown and Mr. Cook described in Item 5.02 above, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit (99.1).
The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) | Exhibits. | |||||
Exhibit No. | Description | |||||
(99.1) | ||||||
(104) | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document). | |||||
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