W.W. Grainger, Inc. filed a current report with the SEC on August 3, 2026, disclosing the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Deidra C. Merriwether and the appointment of Laurie R. Thomson as interim CFO, both effective in early September 2026.

Key Highlights

  • CFO departure: Deidra C. Merriwether resigned as Senior Vice President and CFO, effective September 4, 2026, to pursue another opportunity.
  • No disagreement cited: According to the filing, Merriwether's resignation is not due to any disagreement with the company's operations, financial statements, internal controls, policies, practices, or independent auditors.
  • Interim appointment: The Board appointed Laurie R. Thomson as interim CFO, effective September 5, 2026, while she continues in her role as Vice President and Controller.
  • Salary increase: Thomson's base salary will increase from $455,271 to $500,000 in connection with the interim CFO appointment.
  • RSU award: Thomson will receive a one-time restricted stock unit award on October 1, 2026, with an approximate grant value of $750,000, vesting in three equal installments on October 1, 2027, October 1, 2028, and October 1, 2029.
  • CFO search underway: The company disclosed it will begin a search process for the next permanent CFO immediately.

Grainger's CFO Transition: Resignation, Appointment, and Compensation Details

W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), a broad-line distributor of maintenance, repair, and operations products headquartered at 100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Illinois, disclosed a senior Leadership change in its finance function on July 31, 2026. According to the filing, Deidra C. Merriwether notified the Board of Directors on that date of her personal decision to resign as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in order to pursue another opportunity outside the company. Her resignation becomes effective September 4, 2026. The filing states explicitly that her departure is not connected to any disagreement over company operations, financial statements, internal controls, policies or practices, or the company's independent auditors.

The Board moved promptly to address the transition, according to the filing, appointing Laurie R. Thomson as interim CFO effective September 5, 2026, the day following Merriwether's departure. Thomson, age 53, has served as Vice President, Controller and principal accounting officer of the company since May 2021. Her tenure at Grainger also includes roles as Vice President, Internal Audit and Finance Continuous Improvement from November 2019 to April 2021, and Vice President, Internal Audit from October 2016 to November 2019, among other positions dating back to February 2008. Before joining Grainger, she served as Director of Internal Audit at CVS Health Corporation and as an Audit Manager at Arthur Andersen LLP. The filing notes that Thomson is a certified public Accountant .

In connection with the interim appointment, the filing discloses that Thomson's base salary will rise from $455,271 to $500,000. She is also set to receive a one-time restricted stock unit award on October 1, 2026, with an approximate grant value of $750,000. That award vests in three equal installments on each of October 1, 2027, October 1, 2028, and October 1, 2029. The company disclosed that a permanent CFO search will begin immediately.

What Was Disclosed

The filing reported the resignation of Grainger's CFO Deidra C. Merriwether effective September 4, 2026, the interim appointment of Laurie R. Thomson effective September 5, 2026, and the associated compensation adjustments including a base salary increase and a restricted stock unit grant.