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

January 13, 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 January 14, 2021, Genuine Parts Company announced that its Board of Directors appointed William P. Stengel ("Will") to the position of President of Genuine Parts Company effective January 15, 2021. Mr. Stengel, 43, was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer of Genuine Parts Company, a position he has held since joining the company in November of 2019.

Prior to joining Genuine Parts Company, Mr. Stengel worked for HD Supply, an Atlanta-based industrial distributor. From June of 2013 to October of 2018, he held positions with HD Supply Facilities Maintenance as President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, and Senior Vice President, Strategic Business Development and Investor Relations. Through his various roles at HD Supply, at various points, Mr. Stengel was responsible for end-to-end global supply chain and field support execution, strategic commercial functions (including e-commerce, information technology, merchandising and marketing), growth strategy, portfolio optimization and corporate development.

A copy of the press release announcing Mr. Stengel’s appointment 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

APPOINTMENT OF WILL STENGEL TO PRESIDENT

ATLANTA, January 14, 2021 – Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed William P. Stengel to the position of President of Genuine Parts Company. Mr. Stengel, 43, was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer of the Company and becomes only the eighth President in the Company’s 93-year history. He will continue to report to Paul Donahue, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Donahue stated, “Will is an exceptional talent, and his proven leadership and relevant experience make him an excellent choice as the Company’s next President. His promotion is also a reflection of our board and management’s ongoing commitment to succession planning for the Company. As Chief Transformation Officer, Will has led the effective and disciplined management of our transformation initiatives while also taking on various operational and strategic responsibilities. As President, he will continue to lead these efforts and work alongside me to further develop and advance our strategic roadmap and execute our growth and productivity initiatives.”

Mr. Stengel has nearly two decades of significant leadership and professional experience prior to joining Genuine Parts Company in 2019. Previously, he served in various executive leadership roles at HD Supply, including as President and Chief Executive Officer of HD Supply Facilities Maintenance. Prior to that role, he was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at HD Supply Facilities Maintenance. Prior to HD Supply, Mr. Stengel worked in the strategic business development group at the Home Depot and in various investment banking roles.

About Genuine Parts Company

Founded in 1928, Genuine Parts Company is a global service organization engaged in the distribution of automotive replacement parts and industrial 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. Genuine Parts Company had 2019 revenues of $19.4 billion. Further information is available at www.genpt.com.

GPC Contacts

Carol B. Yancey, Executive Vice President and CFO – (678) 934-5044

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