{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-23/lkq-names-sal-abbate-ceo","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-23/lkq-names-sal-abbate-ceo.md","title":"LKQ Names Sal Abbate CEO as Justin Jude Departs","headline":"LKQ Corporation Appoints Salvatore A. Abbate President and CEO, Succeeding Justin Jude","description":"LKQ Corporation appoints Salvatore A. Abbate as president and CEO effective December 15, 2026, succeeding Justin Jude, who departs the company today.","section":"Leadership","published_at":"2026-10-23T12:25:37+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-23T12:25:37+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Salvatore A. Abbate becomes LKQ president and CEO on December 15, 2026, succeeding Justin Jude, who departs effective October 23, 2026.","John Mendel, LKQ's chairman, and Sue Gove, chair of the audit committee, lead an interim Office of the Chief Executive Officer.","Abbate was CEO of Veritiv Corporation, which was sold to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for $2.6 billion in 2023."],"companies":[{"name":"LKQ Corporation","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0006puy/lkq-corporation","website":"https://www.lkqcorp.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"GlobeNewswire","title":"LKQ Corporation Appoints Salvatore A. Abbate as President and Chief Executive Officer","url":"https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/23/3387209/8053/en/lkq-corporation-appoints-salvatore-a-abbate-as-president-and-chief-executive-officer.html"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Leadership","LKQ Corporation"],"body_markdown":"LKQ Corporation appointed Salvatore A. \"Sal\" Abbate as President and Chief Executive Officer effective December 15, 2026, succeeding Justin Jude, who departs the company effective October 23, 2026. The board announced the appointment on October 23, 2026, [GlobeNewswire](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/23/3387209/8053/en/lkq-corporation-appoints-salvatore-a-abbate-as-president-and-chief-executive-officer.html) reported.\n\n## LKQ's Interim Office of the Chief Executive Officer\n\nUntil Abbate takes the role, [LKQ Corporation](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0006puy/lkq-corporation) has set up an interim Office of the Chief Executive Officer made up of John Mendel, chairman of the board, and Sue Gove, chair of LKQ's audit committee. The office will work with LKQ's leadership teams and management on overseeing operations during the interim period.\n\nAbbate brings more than three decades of experience leading large distribution and industrial businesses. As CEO of Veritiv Corporation, he led a transformation of the company, with its share price increasing more than 13-fold during his tenure, culminating in its $2.6 billion sale to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2023. Before becoming CEO, he served as Veritiv's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer. Earlier he held senior leadership roles at Andersen Windows & Doors, Solutia, Inc., now part of Eastman Chemical Company, and Armstrong World Industries. He currently serves on the board of ArcBest and holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.\n\n\"After a thorough search, the Board concluded that Sal is the right leader for LKQ at this moment,\" Mendel said. \"He is a disciplined operator and people-centered leader, who has transformed a complex distribution business, improved margins and created significant value for shareholders.\"\n\n\"There is meaningful opportunity to improve performance, and I intend to move quickly,\" Abbate said.\n\n## LKQ's Strategic Review and 2025 Revenue\n\nLKQ's board initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives in January 2026, potentially including a sale of the entire company, engaging Bank of America Securities as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as legal counsel, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). In December 2025 the company began a process to explore a potential sale of its Specialty segment, Keystone Automotive Operations, a North American distributor of automotive, RV, and marine parts. LKQ reported total revenue of $13,651 million for fiscal year 2025, a 1.2% decline year-over-year, the same records show.\n\n## LKQ's Third Quarter 2026 Results Date\n\nLKQ will release its third quarter 2026 financial results on October 29, 2026, and host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, [Stock Titan](https://akta.pro/news-signals) reported. The call will be accessible via dial-in and webcast, with a replay available on the company's website.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}