The Toro Company has named Neal M. Lackritz as its vice‑president and chief technology officer, a freshly established executive post intended to centralise technology strategy and speed the commercialisation of autonomous, connected and alternative‑power products. The appointment takes effect on 2 November 2026, the company said.
Consolidating research and engineering
The new role will unite Toro’s global engineering organisation with its Center for Technology, Research and Innovation (CTRI) under a single leadership structure. Company statements describe the change as a move to create a more cohesive technology roadmap that prioritises investment, streamlines platforms and supports profitable growth.
"Built on a foundation of innovation and engineering excellence, The Toro Company has long focused on helping customers tackle their most important challenges,"
The comment accompanies praise of the incoming chief technology officer’s track record in building and transforming engineering teams, aligning disparate groups around unified priorities and delivering disciplined execution. Executives said those qualities will help Toro accelerate innovation and produce tangible returns for customers and shareholders.
Focus on autonomy, connectivity and alternative power
While Toro is best known for equipment for the outdoor environment, the company emphasised that the CTO will have explicit responsibility for advancing several strategic technology areas. These include:
- autonomous systems — developing and commercialising self‑operating solutions;
- alternative power — advancing non‑conventional propulsion and energy technologies;
- connected solutions — integrating digital and telematic capabilities into products and services.
Bringing these programmes under one executive is intended to create stronger alignment across product lines and speed the introduction of integrated offers that combine hardware, software and services.
Why the move matters
The appointment reflects a broader trend among manufacturers to elevate technology leadership as a means of coping with rapid change in electrification, autonomy and software‑defined products. Centralising technology decision‑making can reduce duplication, help prioritise scarce R&D budgets and provide clearer direction to engineering teams and external partners.
For Toro, which supplies professional and consumer equipment, such changes are likely to touch customers through increased efficiency, higher levels of automation and tighter product connectivity. The company framed the reorganisation as a way to "deliver added efficiency and productivity for customers" while strengthening market position.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Vice‑President & Chief Technology Officer |
| Appointee | Neal M. Lackritz |
| Effective date | 2 November 2026 |
| Key responsibilities | Enterprise technology strategy; oversee global engineering and CTRI; commercialise autonomy, alternative power and connected solutions |
The announcement did not provide further details on the scale of investment, specific product timelines or how the company will measure the new organisation's success. However, the language used suggests a priority on building integrated solutions that marry engineering with digital capabilities.
Implications for industry partners and customers
Manufacturers increasingly require cohesive technology platforms that allow hardware to be paired with software services. For Toro’s network of dealers, end customers and potential technology partners, a centralised technology office could simplify collaboration models and make decisions about platform choices more predictable.
For stakeholders watching how traditional equipment makers respond to the shift towards electrification and autonomy, Toro’s move is another indication that businesses are reorganising senior leadership to better capture the value of connected, software‑enabled products.
The company described the appointment as part of a continued commitment to innovation and engineering excellence, and said the change positions Toro to accelerate its technology agenda while creating "meaningful value for customers and shareholders." The incoming CTO’s prior experience in transforming engineering organisations was highlighted as a central reason for the hire.
