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The Lee Company Announces CEO Transition

The Lee Company will become a third generation led family business, marking a major milestone in the company’s history. On July 10th, 2023 – the 75th anniversary of The Lee Company – Marietta S. Lee, the granddaughter of the company’s founder, will become President and CEO. William (Bill) W. Lee, Marietta’s uncle and the founder’s son, will retire as President and CEO, remaining Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Continuing family involvement in the stewardship of the business has always been important to the Lee family. This transition in leadership from generation two to generation three represents a celebratory occasion for The Lee Company. Bill Lee said, “this transition has been many years in the making and I have complete confidence that Marietta is going to be a terrific leader of The Lee Company.”

After 75 years in business, Marietta will be the company’s first female President and CEO. Since joining the company in 2001, she has served as Assistant Facilities Manager, Facilities Manager, Vice President of the Restrictor Group, Vice President of the Industrial Microhydraulics Group, Executive Vice President, and COO. “I’m honored and excited to be taking on this new role. I plan to continue our long tradition of steady, stable growth, expanding and improving our products, and serving markets all over the world.” Marietta stated.

Bill began his role as CEO and President of The Lee Company in 2010. Under his leadership, The Lee Company has grown from under 800 employees to over 1,100. He has led his family’s business through some of its most challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and some of its most rewarding –  the acquisition of the TTP Ventus Ltd. company (now LEE Ventus Ltd.), the addition of about 262,000 square feet of manufacturing space, the elimination of monthly medical insurance premiums for employees, and the release of numerous new products.

About The Lee Company 

The Lee Company is a world leader in miniature precision fluid control products for industries like aerospace and defense, automotive, diagnostics, industrial and off-highway, medical equipment, scientific instruments, motorsports, oil and gas, power generation, and many others.  Founded in 1948, the company is recognized for providing engineered solutions for some of the world’s largest and most innovative companies. With over 1,100 employees, The Lee Company occupies over 1.2 million square feet of manufacturing space in Westbrook and Essex, Connecticut. Thanks to the organization’s unbeatable manufacturing ability, Lee products are recognized worldwide for their outstanding quality, unmatched reliability, and superior performance.

 

Media Contact Information:

The Lee Company
Madison Taricani
860-399-6281 x2551
taricanim@theleeco.com

From Second Generation to Third Generation Led Family Business

WILLIAM W. LEE
BOARD CHAIR, PRESIDENT, AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
See Bio
WILLIAM W. LEE
BOARD CHAIR, PRESIDENT, AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Bill is responsible for executive oversight of all financial matters, operations, engineering, management, and production at The Lee Company.
He has worked at The Lee Company full-time for 26 years and during summers back in the 70s. Before joining the company, he spent ten years in commercial lending and worked as a business consultant for five years. After that, he joined The Lee Company working on corporate development and strategic planning before assuming leadership of the Plug and Solenoid Valve Group. In 2005, he became Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer before moving into his current role as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2010.
Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Connecticut College, a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of New Haven, and attended the Stonier School of Banking. He has been an active member of many not-for-profit boards and was recognized as the Greater New Haven YMCA Man of the Year in 1990. He was also inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2017.
Professional associations include serving on the Board of Directors for the University of New Haven Center for Family Business and the Guilford Savings Bank.
Bill is a passionate advocate for private family businesses. His banking and consulting careers were heavily focused on the unique opportunities and challenges of family-owned businesses, mainly due to their long-term focus. Bill takes great pride in helping his employees succeed. The company is full of people who excel at their jobs and find great personal satisfaction in what they do. This positive workplace culture results from putting the right people in the correct position and giving them the tools to succeed.
Fun Facts
  • For 40+ years, Bill has raced a Laser sailboat each summer. This hobby combines a unique combination of physical exertion, strategic planning, and mental acuity that he finds applies to nearly every business challenge.
  • Among his favorite Lee products remains the original part sold by the company: the Lee Plug®. The Lee Plug was developed to solve the industry-wide problem of reliably sealing cross-drilled holes, which had existed for years. With its simple design and installation, the Lee Plug is used for mission-critical applications in various industries. The Lee Plug was the basis for all Lee insert designs and continues to grow in importance to the industry today.
View The Lee Company’s Leadership TeaM
MARIETTA S. LEE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, GENERAL COUNSEL, AND CORPORATE SECRETARY
See Bio
MARIETTA S. LEE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, GENERAL COUNSEL, AND CORPORATE SECRETARY

Marietta is responsible for executive oversight of all production operations and legal and regulatory matters at The Lee Company.

Marietta has worked at The Lee Company since 2001, working as Facilities Manager, Vice President of the Restrictor Group, Vice President of the Industrial Microhydraulics (IMH) Group, and Executive Vice President of The Lee Company before moving into her current role.

Before joining the family business, she worked in TV news in various roles, including an on-air correspondent for Court-TV covering the US Supreme Court and Justice Department, Producer for CBS News in its Washington, DC bureau, and Investigative Producer for ABC-owned KTRK in Houston, TX.

She has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Georgetown University, a Juris Doctor Cum Laude from Catholic University, and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of New Haven.

Her professional associations include serving on the Yale New Haven Hospital Board of Directors, Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and the Board of Directors for Essex Savings Bank. She is also a member of the bar for Connecticut, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. She has been recognized as Alumni of the Year by both The Country School and the University of New Haven.

Fun Facts

  • Like William Lee, Marietta has developed a love of sailing.
  • She also serves as a Police Commissioner for the Town of Madison, CT.</span></li>
  • During her time in the Facilities Department, she oversaw the construction of many of The Lee Company manufacturing buildings.