8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

March 1, 2021

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(678) 934-5000

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CF.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

On March 1, 2021, Genuine Parts Company (the "Company") announced that its Board of Directors appointed Napoleon B. Rutledge, Jr., Senior Vice President of Finance, to the additional role of Chief Accounting Officer of the Company effective March 1, 2021. In his expanded role, Mr. Rutledge will be responsible for the Company’s corporate finance and accounting, including its regulatory accounting matters, financial reporting, financial planning and analysis and accounting policies.

Mr. Rutledge, 48, has worked in a variety of financial management roles at the Company and has extensive experience in corporate finance, treasury, risk management, audit and SEC reporting. Most recently, Mr. Rutledge has served as Senior Vice President of Finance since 2018, and previously was Vice President of Finance from 2016 to 2018 and Vice President of Finance and Assistant Treasurer from 2012 to 2016. Prior to joining the Company in 1999, Mr. Rutledge spent four years in public accounting with Ernst & Young.

A copy of the press release is furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Document

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY ANNOUNCES

OFFICER CHANGE

• Napoleon Rutledge Appointed to Chief Accounting Officer

ATLANTA, March 1, 2021 – Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Napoleon B. Rutledge, Jr, Senior Vice President of Finance, to the additional role of Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. In his expanded role, Mr. Rutledge will be responsible for the Company’s corporate finance and accounting, including its regulatory accounting matters, financial reporting, financial planning and analysis and accounting policies.

Paul Donahue, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Napoleon has been a key financial officer of the Company for more than 10 years, and he is well-qualified and deserving of his new leadership role. We know he will do an outstanding job, and we look forward to his continued contributions to the Company.”

Carol Yancey, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, added, “We are both pleased and fortunate to have Napoleon in the role of Chief Accounting Officer. In his 21 years with the Company, Napoleon has been instrumental in advancing our corporate finance and accounting functions, and his leadership skills, financial knowledge and accounting experience make him an excellent fit for this important position.”

At Genuine Parts Company, Mr. Rutledge has worked in a variety of financial management roles and has extensive experience in corporate finance, treasury, risk management, audit and SEC reporting. Most recently, Mr. Rutledge has served as Senior Vice President of Finance since 2018, and previously was Vice President of Finance from 2016-2018 and Vice President of Finance and Assistant Treasurer from 2012-2016. Prior to joining the Company in 1999, Mr. Rutledge spent four years in public accounting with Ernst & Young.

About Genuine Parts Company

Founded in 1928, Genuine Parts Company is a global service organization engaged in the distribution of automotive and industrial replacement parts. The Company’s Automotive Parts Group distributes automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australasia, France, the U.K., Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium. The Company’s Industrial Parts Group distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. In total, the Company serves its global customers from an extensive network of more than 10,000 locations in 14 countries. Genuine Parts Company had 2020 revenues of $16.5 billion. Further information is available at www.genpt.com.

Contacts

Sidney G. Jones, Senior Vice President - Investor Relations – (678) 934-5628