ST LOUIS–Barry-Wehmiller (BW), the 140-year-old, $3.6 billion-plus global platform of industrial and packaging automation, professional services and life sciences technology recently announced that Kyle Chapman has assumed the role of CEO, in addition to his existing role as president.

Bob Chapman, who has served as CEO since 1975, will continue to serve as chairman of the board and majority shareholder.

The firm has been led by a Chapman since 1957, when William A. Chapman became president after joining Barry-Wehmiller four years prior. Firm ownership was transferred to the Chapman family in 1963, and Bill’s son, Bob, joined the company in 1969. After Bill’s sudden death in 1976, Bob became president, then CEO and chairman of the board.

Bob expressed his excitement about passing the torch and witnessing Kyle assume leadership of the family enterprise, reflecting on how his own father passed before he could see him lead and transform the company.

“Our primary responsibility is to ensure a business model where the people in our span of care experience meaningful work, feel safe and valued, and are confident in our shared future,” said Bob. “Throughout Kyle’s time at Barry-Wehmiller, he has added dramatically to that vision.”

Kyle brings more than 25 years of private equity and operating experience to the CEO role. His career started at Banc of America Capital Investors, where he completed approximately $300 million in investments across various industries.

His tenure with Barry-Wehmiller dates to 2009, when he co-founded BW Forsyth Partners–Barry-Wehmiller’s thriving $850 million-plus hybrid equity firm that unifies the best of Barry-Wehmiller’s business strategies, culture development initiatives and long-term orientation with the best aspects of private equity investment.

From 2015–2019, Kyle served as a strategic financial advisor to Barry-Wehmiller’s leadership team, during which Barry-Wehmiller elevated its performance levels and increased its intentionality around living its culture. In 2020, he was appointed Barry-Wehmiller’s interim chief financial officer, shortly before being named president.

With over a decade of experience at Barry-Wehmiller, Kyle’s appointment as CEO represents a natural progression of his deep understanding of the business and the organization’s culture of leadership.

“I’m honored to lead Barry-Wehmiller and am deeply grateful for the strong foundation my father and his leadership teams established,” said Kyle. “I’m fiercely committed to building on my dad’s legacy by demonstrating that a company can achieve extraordinary financial strength without compromising its commitment to people. We will show the world that it is possible to be both a model of human-centered leadership and a top-quartile performer. If we continue this trajectory, others will follow — not just because of our performance, but because we’re fulfilling our purpose of building a better world through business.”

“Ultimately, I want Barry-Wehmiller to be a source of inspiration–undeniable proof that businesses can achieve sustained, elite performance without sacrificing their humanity. That’s the true measure of success in business,” the new CEO explained.

BW Converting brings together six Barry-Wehmiller companies–Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), Baldwin Technology Co., Winkler + Dünnebier (W+D), STAX Technologies, Hudson-Sharp, and Northern Engraving and Machine. These industry leaders offer trusted brands and innovative technologies in the design, manufacture, and service of high-performance converting and packaging machinery for the tissue, nonwovens, hygiene, bag-converting, mailing, and printing industries. PCMC has been an active, engaged member of FTA for more than 50 years. 

Pictured: Kyle Chapman