| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Departure of Chief Financial Officer
On June 9, 2023, David Afshar notified Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Aveanna”), of his resignation from his position as Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer), effective July 7, 2023. Mr. Afshar’s decision to resign is not related to any disagreement with the Company.
Appointment of Interim Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer
On June 14, 2023, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) appointed Matthew Buckhalter, the Company’s current Senior Vice President of Finance, as Interim Chief Financial Officer and the Company’s Principal Financial Officer, effective July 7, 2023. Mr. Buckhalter, 34, brings more than a decade of experience in financial leadership roles in the healthcare industry. Mr. Buckhalter joined Aveanna more than seven years ago and is responsible for corporate and operational finance, business intelligence, FP&A, and investor relations. With Aveanna, Mr. Buckhalter most recently served as a Senior Vice President of Finance and led the Company’s Investor Relations Group. Moreover, Mr. Buckhalter previously served as Aveanna’s Vice President for Financial Planning and Analysis. Prior to Aveanna, Mr. Buckhalter served as Vice President of Finance for RT Capital. He also has served as a Senior Financial Analyst with Gentiva Health Services in addition to other accounting and financial roles. Mr. Buckhalter received his undergraduate degree in Finance from Florida State University.
Appointment of Principal Accounting Officer
On June 14, 2023, the Board appointed Debbie Stewart, the Company’s current Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, as Senior Vice President and the Company’s Principal Accounting Officer, effective July 7, 2023. Ms. Stewart, 39, brings more than 15 years of accounting and financial experience to Aveanna. Ms. Stewart joined the Aveanna management team in September 2021 and is responsible for accounting, tax, treasury, audit, and SEC reporting. Prior to joining Aveanna, Ms. Stewart spent 14 years with Ernst and Young LLP as an assurance professional and most recently as a Senior Manager. She served a diverse range of clients, including SEC registrants which included Fortune 500 companies, private equity held companies, decentralized organizations, and multinational corporations. Ms. Stewart, a Certified Public Accountant, holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Accounting from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.
Both Ms. Stewart and Mr. Buckhalter entered into the Company’s standard form of executive employment agreement (each, an “Agreement”). Each Agreement provides for a base salary of $325,000 per year, an annual target bonus opportunity equal to 50% of base salary, and participation in the Company’s long-term equity incentive program. In addition, both Ms. Stewart and Mr. Buckhalter will receive a cash retention bonus in the amount of $150,000, payable in July 2023, subject to a claw back if either Ms. Stewart or Mr. Buckhalter does not remain employed with the Company through June 2024.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Stewart or Mr. Buckhalter and any other persons pursuant to their respective appointments as officers of the Company. There are no family relationships between Ms. Stewart or Mr. Buckhalter and the executive officers or directors of the Company, and there are no other transactions involving the Company and either of Ms. Stewart or Mr. Buckhalter that the Company would be required to report pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
