Applied Industrial Technologies announced that Jon S. Ploetz has joined the Company as Vice President – General Counsel & Secretary. In this role, Ploetz will lead the Company's global legal affairs, governance and compliance activities, ESG efforts, and corporate secretary duties. Ploetz succeeds Fred D. Bauer who elected to retire effective January 31, 2023, after 30 years of service to the Company.

Bauer remained the Company's Secretary throughout the replacement search; his official departure is March 31, 2023. Ploetz joins Applied® from Harsco Corporation, where he served as Vice President, Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary since 2018, and Assistant General Counsel, Corporate & Securities prior to that. His professional career also includes five years as Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary at Arch Coal, Inc., and nearly 10 years of law firm experience.

Ploetz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Statistics and Management from Luther College in Iowa, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado School of Law. He is a member of several professional groups, including the Society for Corporate Governance and the National Association of Corporate Directors.