The Toro Company has appointed Neal M. Lackritz as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, bringing extensive engineering and technology leadership experience to its innovation strategy.
Neal M. Lackritz is set to join The Toro Company as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective November 2, 2026. The appointment introduces a new leadership role designed to align the company’s technology strategy, engineering capabilities, and investments with its long-term growth objectives.
In his new position, Lackritz will lead the company’s enterprise technology strategy and oversee its global engineering organization and Center for Technology, Research and Innovation. His responsibilities will include advancing innovation and bringing autonomous systems, alternative-power technologies, and connected solutions to market.
The appointment comes as technology continues to transform outdoor equipment, landscaping, irrigation, and construction industries. Automation, electrification, and connected technologies are creating opportunities to improve productivity, operational efficiency, and customer experiences.
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Lackritz brings more than 30 years of technology leadership experience across automotive, robotics, outdoor equipment, and consumer hardware. He joins The Toro Company from Whisker, where he served as Vice President of Engineering. His previous roles include Vice President of Advanced Development at Ariens Corporation and senior technology positions at Genesis Motion Solutions, Apple, and Bose.
According to the company’s announcement, his experience in building engineering organizations and aligning teams around shared technology platforms will support its efforts to accelerate innovation and strengthen its technology roadmap.
The Toro Company provides solutions spanning turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground construction, irrigation, and outdoor lighting. Its portfolio serves customers across residential, commercial, agricultural, and public-sector environments.
Lackritz’s appointment highlights the growing importance of technology leadership in bringing advanced engineering capabilities into practical, market-ready solutions. By aligning research, engineering, and product development, the company aims to advance innovation while creating value for customers and supporting profitable growth.
