Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On May 30, 2024, the Board of Directors of Calavo Growers, Inc. (“Calavo”) appointed B. John Lindeman as an independent member of its Board of Directors, effective June 3, 2024.
Mr. Lindeman, age 54, has served since March 2020 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HydroFarm Holdings Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: HYFM), a leading manufacturer and distributor of branded hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture, where he is responsible for accounting, finance, and information technology. Prior to joining HydroFarm, Lindeman served as Chief Financial Officer of Calavo from 2015 to 2020. Prior to joining Calavo, Mr. Lindeman held various leadership positions within the finance and investment banking industries, including serving as co-head of the consumer and retail group at Janney Montgomery Scott from 2009 to 2015, managing director at Stifel Nicolaus from 2005 to 2009 and principal at Legg Mason from 1999 to 2005. Prior to joining Legg Mason, he was a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Lindeman has also served as a director of Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) since September 2020. Mr. Lindeman is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington.
In addition, Mr. Lindeman has been appointed to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Following the appointment of Mr. Lindeman as an independent director, Calavo’s Board of Directors will consist of nine directors.
Mr. Lindeman was not selected as a director pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between him and any other person. Mr. Lindeman has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Lindeman will participate in Calavo’s non-employee director compensation program, which is described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2024.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On June 4, 2024, Calavo issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Lindeman to the Board of Directors. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of Calavo’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings, except to the extent expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
