McKinstry is a longtime veteran of Wolters Kluwer, having served numerous leadership positions with the firm prior to becoming CEO, first coming into the company in the 1990s. She has been CEO of the company's operations in North America; president and CEO of Legal Information Services (currently part of Wolters Kluwer's Governance, Risk & Compliance Division); and served in product management positions with CCH Inc., now part of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. She has also been a member of the executive board since June 1, 2001.
She became CEO in 2003 and has maintained the position since then.
The Supervisory Board plans to nominate Caywood as a member of the executive board during its May 15, 2025, shareholder meeting. After that, the executive board of Wolters Kluwer N.V. will consist of McKinstry (as CEO until February 2026), CFO Kevin Entricken and Caywood. The plan is that Caywood will then be appointed CEO of Wolters Kluwer once McKinstry officially retires in February 2026.
McKinsky said she was grateful for the chance to lead, and expressed confidence in her intended successor.
"It has been an honor and privilege to lead Wolters Kluwer through decades of transformation as the market has evolved, and I am committed to ensuring the company's continued strength and relevance," she said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful to the board and my past and present colleagues for their support throughout my tenure. We have a strong foundation in place and, with Stacey, an extraordinarily talented and experienced successor. Stacey's track record as a leader, her customer-focused approach, and her deep knowledge of our company gives me full confidence that Wolters Kluwer will be in excellent hands under her leadership. I am dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition over the next year."
Caywood specializes in business transformation, digital revenue growth, and innovation across the legal, compliance, and healthcare markets. Her expertise spans strategy execution, portfolio management and M&A, product innovation, and commercial excellence. She has led Wolters Kluwer Health since 2020. Prior to that, as CEO of Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, she led a strategic transformation across Europe and the U.S., returning the business to organic growth.
"We are delighted to nominate Stacey Caywood as Wolters Kluwer CEO, effective February 2026," said Ann Ziegler, chair of the Wolters Kluwer Supervisory Board, in a statement. "Stacey's successful track record leading two of our largest divisions, her deep understanding of our business, and her active role in developing the group's 2025-2027 strategic plan, make her the ideal candidate to lead the company into the future. For over 30 years, Stacey has held various leadership roles within the company, and we have full confidence in her ability to continue Wolters Kluwer's legacy of sustainable value creation through excellence and innovation. We look forward to working closely with Stacey and supporting her in this new role."
