US home and workplace security business Allegion has lined up Stacy Cozad as its next general counsel, replacing Jeff Braun, who is retiring at the end of this year.

Cozad joins from chemicals business Ingevity, where she was GC and corporate secretary, bringing with her almost three decades of legal experience. At Allegion, she will oversee the company’s global legal matters, including its trade compliance, enterprise risk management and corporate comms functions. She will take on the new role from 5 August.

American Irish-domiciled Allegion makes security products such as locks, entry systems and GPS trackers under brand names including Cisa, Schlage and Kryptonite.

John Stone, Allegion president and CEO, said: “Stacy is well-regarded for her extensive professional experiences, strategic problem solving and commitment to core values, and we are excited to welcome her to Allegion. As a member of our executive leadership team, she will help shape our next phase of growth and innovation.”

Cozad spent almost three and a half years at Ingevity, having joined from aircraft fuselage-maker Spirit AeroSystems, where she worked for five years as GC and chief compliance officer. Prior to that she spent almost a decade as an associate GC at Southwest Airlines – her first in-house role.

She previously worked in private practice, first at Carrington Coleman Sloman & Blumenthal, where she worked her way up to partner, and then at legacy firm Cash Klemchuk Powers Taylor as counsel. She started her legal career as a briefing attorney in the Supreme Court of Texas.

Writing on LinkedIn, she wrote: “I’m beyond excited… that I’ll soon be joining Allegion as their next general counsel. Allegion innovates in important ways to keep us all safe – at home, at our workplaces, in schools and beyond. I’m proud to be a part of that important mission and to contribute in positive, meaningful ways to Allegion’s people-focused culture.”

Braun, meantime, will stand aside after more than a decade with the company. He will remain as an advisor until the end of the year to support the transition. He originally joined as deputy GC before being promoted to GC a year later. Prior to his time at Allegion, he was GC for General Motors’ China business, among other roles at GM. He started his legal career at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn.

Stone added: “We are very grateful for Jeff’s many contributions to our company over the last decade. It’s been an honour to work alongside him, and we wish him the best in his retirement.”