The Armstrong Company Names New Co-Chairs and CEO

Shifts reflect a new generation of decision-makers for the nearly 70-year-old enterprise

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The board of directors of The Armstrong Company, a global moving and supply chain company, announced changes in its leadership team. Todd Watson has stepped into a co-chair role from his CEO position, and his cousin, Mark Pickens, has also been appointed to co-chair. Will Abbay, Armstrong's chief operating officer since 2021, succeeds Watson as the new CEO.

Why it matters

The leadership changes at The Armstrong Company, a multi-generational family business, represent a transition to the third generation of leaders. The new structure aims to establish clearer separation between governance and management, positioning the company for continued growth and maintaining its long-term, multi-generational legacy.

The details

Todd Watson and Mark Pickens have been appointed as the new co-chairs of The Armstrong Company, representing the third generation of the Watson and Springer families. Will Abbay, who has 25 years of experience at the company, has been named the new CEO, taking over from Todd Watson. The previous co-chairs, Tom Watson and Karen Field Isaacman, will retain their seats on the board of directors and continue to provide insight on long-term decisions.

  • The leadership changes were announced on February 23, 2026.
  • Todd Watson and Mark Pickens have been appointed as the new co-chairs.
  • Will Abbay has been named the new CEO, succeeding Todd Watson.

The players

Todd Watson

Former CEO of The Armstrong Company, now serving as a co-chair.

Mark Pickens

Cousin of Todd Watson, appointed as a co-chair of The Armstrong Company.

Will Abbay

Chief operating officer since 2021, now succeeding Todd Watson as the CEO of The Armstrong Company.

Tom Watson

Previous co-chair of The Armstrong Company, now retaining a seat on the board of directors.

Karen Field Isaacman

Previous co-chair of The Armstrong Company, now retaining a seat on the board of directors.

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What they’re saying

“These leadership shifts are intentional and designed to position Armstrong for the next chapter of growth. As I shift into co-chair and Will into the CEO position, we are creating clearer separation between governance and management.”

— Todd Watson, Co-Chair, The Armstrong Company (PRNewswire)

“Mark and I are honored for the opportunity to represent the third generation of the Watson and Springer families. My father, Tom, and Karen have been instrumental in extraordinary achievements that brought company growth, service diversification and team stability. They're both admirable role models to us, and Mark and I aim to drive the upward momentum they've built over several decades and write a bold new chapter for Armstrong.”

— Todd Watson, Co-Chair, The Armstrong Company (PRNewswire)

What’s next

The new leadership structure, with Todd Watson and Mark Pickens as co-chairs and Will Abbay as CEO, is designed to position The Armstrong Company for continued growth and maintain its long-term, multi-generational legacy.

The takeaway

The leadership changes at The Armstrong Company represent a successful transition to the third generation of a multi-generational family business, with a focus on establishing clearer separation between governance and management to drive the company's future growth and success.