Fortune 500 Executives Shift in September 2026

The week of September 12-18, 2026, saw significant executive realignments within the Fortune 500, a list that ranks America's highest-revenue-generating companies. These "Power Moves" encompass appointments, promotions, resignations, and retirements across critical C-suite roles including Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Operating Officers (COOs), Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), and Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs). The updates also track Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs), Chief People Officers, and Chief Customer Officers when their roles are involved in these high-level transitions. These developments are tracked by Fortune's "Power Moves" column, which provides daily updates through various newsletters such as CEO Daily, CFO Daily, and MPW Daily, alongside weekly publications like Next to Lead and CIO Intelligence.

In the Financials sector, Jones Lang LaSalle (ranked No. 175) appointed Paul Morgan to the newly established position of COO. Morgan, a long-standing member of the company since 2016, previously held the title of Global Chief Operating Officer for Real Estate Management Services and served as CEO of Workplace Management. This move signals a strategic restructuring within the operational leadership of the real estate services firm. In the Healthcare sector, Accendra Health (No. 407) announced the appointment of Kenneth Gardner-Smith as its new CEO. Gardner-Smith is slated to assume his duties in the fourth quarter of 2026. He is already a member of Accendra Health's board and currently leads Veritas Veterinary Partners as its CEO. His prior experience includes senior leadership positions at DaVita (No. 331), a prominent healthcare provider. Gardner-Smith will succeed Edward A. Pesicka, who is retiring from his role.

The Household Products industry saw Yaron Ben David appointed as the Chief Technology and AI Officer at Masco (No. 498). Ben David brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as Chief Digital Officer at Standard Industries, indicating a focus on technological innovation and artificial intelligence integration for Masco. Within the Industrials sector, Otis Worldwide (No. 312) disclosed that Judy Marks will retire as CEO in the first half of 2027, following the appointment of her successor. Marks has been a key figure at Otis since 2017 and will continue to serve as an advisor through July 2027, ensuring a smooth leadership transition. The Technology sector also experienced notable changes, with specific details to be elaborated upon in subsequent sections of the report, highlighting the dynamic nature of executive leadership across major American corporations.