Home Depot CEO Medical Leave Shifts Duties to CFO, COO

Home Depot CEO medical leave names CFO SEC-designated interim principal executive officer and installs interim chair, raising trading volatility risk.

August 12, 2026·2 min read
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Flat vector of a retail storefront morphing into a steadied register, symbolizing Home Depot CEO medical leave governance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Richard McPhail was named the SEC-designated interim principal executive officer.
  • Ann-Marie Campbell will run day-to-day operations during the CEO's medical leave.
  • Board named Gregory D. Brenneman interim chair, testing succession and governance ahead of fiscal Q2 results.

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Home Depot said on Aug. 12, 2026, that Chief Executive Ted Decker will take a temporary medical leave expected to last a few months. The company named Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail interim principal executive officer for SEC purposes and appointed Ann-Marie Campbell to oversee day-to-day operations during Decker’s absence.

Interim Leadership and Governance Changes

Ann-Marie Campbell, senior executive vice president for U.S. stores and operations, will manage daily operations. McPhail will oversee financial management and the Pro business and its subsidiaries. Gregory D. Brenneman will serve as board chair during the leave. The board made these interim appointments in alignment with Decker’s recommendation. Campbell and McPhail will not receive additional pay for their expanded roles.

This arrangement places the CFO in the SEC-designated chief executive role while the board installs an interim chair, testing Home Depot’s near-term governance and succession framework as the company approaches its fiscal second-quarter earnings release.

Disclosure and Timing

The company disclosed the leave in a press release and a securities filing distributed by PR Newswire at 9:00 a.m. ET on Aug. 12, 2026. The filing summary confirmed McPhail’s role as interim principal executive officer for regulatory purposes. The announcement came shortly before Home Depot’s scheduled fiscal second-quarter earnings report, highlighting the retailer’s short-term succession plans.

Home Depot said Decker is expected to return within the next few months but did not provide further details on the medical condition or exact timing.

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