On December 4, 2025, the Board of Directors of ESAB Corporation appointed Dr. Sébastien Martin to serve as a director of the Company, effective as of January 1, 2026. In connection with the appointment of Dr. Martin, the size of the Board was increased from nine to ten members, effective as of January 1, 2026. The Board also appointed Dr. Martin to the Audit Committee of the Board, effective as of January 1, 2026.
Dr. Martin has been an Associate Professor of Operations at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University since September 2025 and previously served as an Assistant Professor of Operations at the Kellogg School from September 2020 to September 2025. Dr. Martin?s research focuses on the interface of large-scale optimization and operations management, with applications to transportation, the gig economy, public sector operations and artificial intelligence. Dr. Martin has served as an external advisor to the Company with respect to artificial intelligence since February 2025, but he will step down from such role immediately prior to joining the Board.
Prior to entering academia, Dr. Martin was a postdoctoral fellow at Lyft Inc. On December 4, 2025, Mr. Patrick Allender notified the Board of his decision to retire as a director of the Company, effective as of the Company?s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Allender?s retirement is not due to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company?s operations, policies or practices.
