On September 4, 2019, Acuity Brands, Inc. (“the Company”) announced certain management changes.

The Company announced that effective September 1, 2019, Richard K. Reece, age 63, was appointed President of Acuity Brands, Inc. He was formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, positions he held since September 2006. Mr. Reece assumes responsibility for the commercial operations of the Company. There were no changes to Mr. Reece’s compensation made as a result of this appointment to President. Mr. Reece’s compensation for the most recent fiscal year is described in the Proxy Statement. No family relationships exist between Mr. Reece and any of the Company’s directors or other executive officers. There are no arrangements between Mr. Reece and any other person to which Mr. Reece was selected as an officer, nor are there any transactions to which the Company is or was a participant and in which Mr. Reece has a material interest subject to disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In addition, the Company also announced that Karen J. Holcom, age 50, was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective as of September 1, 2019. She has been with the Company for 21 years and has held various positions during her tenure, including controller and interim CFO. Ms. Holcom most recently served as Senior Vice President – Finance, a position she held since September 2006. No changes to Ms. Holcom’s compensation were made as a result of the promotion. In addition, Ms. Holcom will participate in the usual compensation and benefit programs available to an officer of the Company, all as described in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2019 annual meeting of shareholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 2018 (the “Proxy Statement”). No family relationships exist between Ms. Holcom and any of the Company’s directors or other executive officers. There are no arrangements between Ms. Holcom and any other person to which Ms. Holcom was selected as an officer, nor are there any transactions to which the Company is or was a participant and in which Ms. Holcom has a material interest subject to disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Lastly, the Company announced that Laurent J. Vernerey stepped down from his position as Executive Vice President and President of Acuity Technology Group effective August 31, 2019. Going forward, he will serve in the newly created position of Strategic Business Development Executive. Mr. Vernerey’s new position will entail fewer responsibilities and a reduced time commitment, which he requested in order to devote more time to his family.

A copy of the Company’s News Release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”) and is incorporated by reference here.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

ACUITY BRANDS INC Exhibit
EX-99.1 2 ayi-20190904x8xk_ex991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit   Press ReleaseExhibit 99.1ACUITY BRANDS ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES•Richard K. Reece named President•Karen J. Holcom named Chief Financial Officer•Laurent J. Vernerey named Strategic Business Development ExecutiveATLANTA,…
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About ACUITY BRANDS, INC. (NYSE:AYI)

Acuity Brands, Inc. is a provider of lighting solutions for commercial, institutional, industrial, infrastructure and residential applications throughout North America and other international markets. The Company operates through North American segment. The Company offers a portfolio of indoor and outdoor lighting and building management solutions for commercial, institutional, industrial, infrastructure and residential applications. The portfolio of lighting solutions include lighting products utilizing fluorescent, light emitting diode (LED), organic LED (OLED), high intensity discharge, metal halide, and incandescent light sources to illuminate a number of applications. The solutions portfolio of the Company also includes modular wiring, LED drivers, sensors, glass and inverters sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Its lighting and building management solutions are marketed under various brand names, including Lithonia Lighting and Holophane.