Fred Stephan replaces Keith Harvey as CEO of Kaiser Aluminum, effective November 2026

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation has appointed Fred Stephan as its new Chief Executive Officer and President, replacing Keith A. Harvey, effective November 1, 2026.

Stephan, 61, will also join Kaiser Aluminum's Board of Directors, increasing the board from nine to 10 members. His initial annual base salary will be USD 1.15 million, according to the company’s latest filing.

His remuneration also includes a USD 3.8 million long-term incentive restricted stock unit (RSU) grant for 2026, along with a USD 2 million sign-on RSU grant. Stephan will also have an annual short-term cash incentive target of USD 1.44 million. From 2027, his long-term incentive target will be USD 4.43 million, with about half of the awards tied to performance.

To know the production, demand and consumption forecasts of aluminium casting, explore our report "Global Aluminium Casting Market 2026-2032: Plant Economics, Alloy Segmentation, Pricing Intelligence, Supply Chain Analysis & Strategic Recommendations"

Stephan joins Kaiser Aluminum after serving as Chief Operating Officer of Amcor Global Flexible Packaging Solutions, where he oversaw more than 200 manufacturing sites in over 35 countries and around 40,000 employees. He has also held senior positions at Amcor Flexibles North America, Bemis, Johns Manville and General Electric. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University.

Stephan’s contract also includes severance benefits if he is removed without cause. He would receive compensation based on twice his base salary and short-term incentive target, along with a prorated annual incentive and up to 24 months of subsidised COBRA health coverage. If the termination follows a change in control, the severance increases to 2.5 times his salary and incentive target, with up to 30 months of subsidised COBRA coverage. 

Find aluminium sheet suppliers, product listings and sourcing opportunities on our B2B marketplace. 

Harvey will move into the role of Executive Chairman after stepping down as CEO. He will also provide advisory support to the company through October 31, 2027, while remaining on the board through the 2028 annual meeting.