Exec Edge hosted a fireside chat at the ICR Conference 2026 with Timothy FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer at The Middleby Corp. (Nasdaq: MIDD). The in-person interview was joined by Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone, and they discussed the company’s recent M&A and transformation into three distinct businesses of food processing, a joint venture with 26North for residential kitchen, and the Middleby brand on its own, among other topics.
About Timothy FitzGerald
Mr. FitzGerald was named Middleby CEO in 2019 and has been with the company for nearly 25 years. Before moving to the CEO role, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, a position he had held since 2003.
Prior to that, he was Vice President and Corporate Controller from 1998 to 2003. Since joining Middleby, Mr. FitzGerald has been heavily involved in the company-wide strategic decisions and initiatives. He has led the Middleby acquisition and business development activities, with approximately 120 brands in the portfolio today. Additionally, Mr. FitzGerald directed the Middleby Worldwide international sales and distribution operations from a concept to the large and respected global leader it is today.
More recently, he was responsible for the strategic formation of the Middleby residential distribution platform which supports sales for all the Middleby residential brands. Prior to joining Middleby, Mr. FitzGerald held positions at Arthur Andersen in audit and consulting from 1991 through 1998, working with clients in restructurings, business integrations, and mergers and acquisition activities.
About The Middleby Corporation (Nasdaq: MIDD)
2025 has been a year of transformation for The Middleby Corporation as it evolves from an innovative manufacturer of advanced kitchen technology for the global foodservice industry into a specialized, pure-play leader in commercial foodservice equipment. Earlier this year, Middleby announced plans to spin off its Food Processing segment into a standalone business, and in December 2025, the company sold a majority stake in its Residential Kitchen segment to 26North, forming a joint venture to continue producing iconic brands such as Viking and AGA Rangemaster. These strategic moves position Middleby for accelerated growth, focusing on automation, labor savings, reducing food costs, and driving kitchen efficiency while expanding into new markets like ice and beverage. A global leader in the foodservice industry, Middleby develops and manufactures a broad range of solutions for commercial foodservice, food processing, and residential kitchens. While Middleby may not be a household name, it powers many of the world’s leading restaurant brands – including YUM! Brands, Dunkin’, Burger King, Domino’s, Five Guys, Kroger and more. With over 100 technology-forward brands and thousands of products designed to improve efficiency, sustainability, minimize risk through automation, AI, and IoT, Middleby is enabling the connected smart kitchen of the future.
