---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000018255-22-000003"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CATO"
cik: "0000018255"
company_name: "CATO CORP"
filed_at: "2022-01-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-27T20:19:24.169590+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Cato Corp announces CFO retirement; Chuck Knight to succeed John Howe on Jan 17, 2022

## Summary
- John R. Howe retires as EVP/CFO after 35 years, effective Jan 17, 2022; will assist transition through May 1, 2022.
- Successor Chuck Knight appointed EVP/CFO; previously CFO of Vitamin Shoppe and corporate controller at Toys "R" Us.
- Knight's initial base salary $400K; eligible for performance bonus up to 60% of base salary for FY2022.
- Equity grants up to 60% of base salary under 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan, vesting over 5 years.
- One-time relocation allowance of $30,000 plus moving and temporary housing for relocation to Charlotte, NC.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000018255-22-000003
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CATO
- cik: 0000018255
- company_name: CATO CORP
- filed_at: 2022-01-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/18255/000001825522000003/0000018255-22-000003-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/18255/000001825522000003/cato8k3qtr2021.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000018255-22-000003
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000018255-22-000003.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000018255-22-000003.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John R. Howe departed as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at CATO CORP.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Mr. John R. Howe, its Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and the Company’s principal financial officer, will retire from these roles effective January 17, 2022
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/18255/000001825522000003/0000018255-22-000003-index.htm
- Executive change
  Chuck Knight was appointed as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at CATO CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Mr. Knight’s appointment as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer will be effective as of January 17, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/18255/000001825522000003/0000018255-22-000003-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.