Tools and outdoor equipment manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker announced that its board of directors appointed Christopher Nelson as President and CEO, effective Oct. 1.

Nelson currently serves as Stanley B&D’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, leading the Tools & Outdoor business. He will succeed Donald Allan, who has been CEO since July 2022.

As part of the transition, Allan will take on the role of Executive Chair of the Board. Andrea Ayers, the current Chair, will become Lead Independent Director and continue to lead the Executive Committee. Allan is expected to retire on Oct. 1, 2026, after which the board plans to return to a governance structure with an independent chair.

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Nelson will join the company’s board when he takes on the CEO role. He has more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership, product development and business transformation. Since joining Stanley B&D in 2023, the company said he has helped sharpen its focus on core operations and brands, while driving the strategic direction of the Tools & Outdoor segment.

Before joining Stanley B&D, Nelson served as president of Carrier’s HVAC segment, overseeing its global commercial and residential portfolio. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at the U.S. Army, Johnson & Johnson and McKinsey & Company.

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“On behalf of the Board, we look forward to working with him even more closely in his role as President and CEO,” Ayers said in a June 30 news release. “As a key member of the executive leadership team and a seasoned global leader, Chris has played a pivotal role in streamlining and optimizing the Company around our core businesses and strong portfolio of global brands. His leadership, strategic vision, commercial expertise and unwavering focus on end-users will continue to be invaluable to all our stakeholders.”