Sargent and Greenleaf appoints Mark Lemire as CEO

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky.—Sargent and Greenleaf, Inc., a global manufacturer of high-security locks and locking systems for safes, vaults and high-security cabinets, has appointed Mark LeMire to chief executive officer.

LeMire comes to Sargent and Greenleaf with more than 25 years of experience in executive management, new product development and engineering. Most recently, LeMire held leadership positions at Loma Systems and Buehler, both divisions of Illinois Tool Works (ITW). As a global director of marketing and product development for Buehler, he managed and led the product portfolio encompassing lifecycle management, innovation and new product development. As CEO, LeMire will provide strategic leadership and day-to-day operational management for Sargent and Greenleaf, guiding the company to exceed its business objectives.

“We are proud to welcome Mark to the S&G executive team,” said Paul Bridwell, managing director at OpenGate Capital, who is responsible for overseeing all North American investments for the firm. “With his extensive product development knowledge, Mark will be a great asset as he takes on this role to help further S&G's long-standing reputation as a trustworthy and dependable manufacturer of high-quality, innovative products.”

OpenGate Capital acquired S&G in June 2019 and the business joins the firm's global portfolio of lower middle market businesses operating across North America and Europe.

“I am excited to work with the S&G team to build upon the successful and respected legacy that those before me have built over the last 160-plus years,” LeMire said in the announcement. “As technology evolves, S&G will continue to provide products that secure our customers' most valuable assets, while building even stronger customer relationships.”

LeMire graduated from Purdue University with a B.S in Mechanical Engineering Technology and received his M.B.A in Marketing from DePaul University in Chicago.

Since 1857, Sargent and Greenleaf has provided security solutions to financial institutions, commercial businesses, governments and consumers around the world.