Armstrong Plans CEO Succession for 2026, Promotes COO Mark Hershey to President and CEO
Armstrong World Industries will promote COO Mark Hershey to president and CEO on April 1, 2026, as current CEO Vic Grizzle transitions to executive chair—an executive shift that could signal continued emphasis on operational execution, acquisitions and product-line strategy across ceilings and architectural specialties.

Armstrong World Industries has set a planned leadership transition for 2026, naming current Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mark Hershey as the company’s next president and CEO, effective April 1, 2026. Current President and CEO Vic Grizzle will move into the role of executive chair. Hershey will also join the company’s board of directors.
For wall and ceiling contractors, the headline is continuity. Armstrong is positioning the transition as the next step in a long-term succession plan rather than a strategic reset, which typically points to stable product-line direction and sustained focus on manufacturing execution, innovation and commercial support across mineral fiber ceilings and architectural specialties.
Board Chair Roy Templin credited Grizzle with transforming Armstrong into a more focused building products company since the 2016 separation from its flooring business. The company highlighted growth, operational performance and disciplined capital allocation during that period, including expansion of the Architectural Specialties segment through acquisitions.
Grizzle said he has worked closely with Hershey throughout his tenure and described the move as the right time to hand off leadership. Armstrong noted that Hershey has been involved in the company’s strategy and acquisitions since 2016, including transactions that expanded Architectural Specialties—an area that often touches specialty wall systems, perimeter conditions, and high-finish interior packages.
Hershey said he intends to build on Armstrong’s current foundation, continue its growth strategy and maintain a customer-driven focus. For contractors and project teams, that likely means continued emphasis on performance-driven interior assemblies—particularly in ceilings and specialty applications where coordination, lead times, and specification compliance can directly impact schedule and closeout.
Hershey has served as Armstrong’s COO since April 2025 and previously served as senior vice president, Americas beginning in January 2022. Armstrong said his responsibilities have included strategy and operations across the company’s Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments, along with innovation, business development and enterprise-wide planning.
Hershey has served as Armstrong’s COO since April 2025 and previously served as senior vice president, Americas beginning in January 2022. Armstrong said his responsibilities have included strategy and operations across the company’s Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments, along with innovation, business development and enterprise-wide planning.
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