{"schema_version":"secwatch.filing_event.v1","accession":"0000063296-26-000080","form_type":"8-K","ticker":"MATW","cik":"0000063296","company_name":"MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORP","filed_at":"2026-08-11T20:41:06+00:00","discovered_at":"2026-08-11T20:42:00.363958+00:00","generated_at":"2026-08-11T20:42:05.674872+00:00","sec_items":["5.02","7.01","9.01"],"event_type":"leadership","sentiment":"neutral","materiality_score":0.6,"calibrated_materiality_score":0.6,"confidence":"high","headline":"Matthews appoints Michael Whitehead as CEO effective Aug 31, 2026","bullets":["Whitehead, 52, becomes President and CEO and board member on Aug 31, 2026, succeeding Joseph Bartolacci who retires after 20+ years.","Previously EVP and President, Americas Welding at Lincoln Electric, leading a $2.5B revenue business; doubled automation unit to $1B+.","CEO compensation: $1M base salary, $300K transition cash, FY2027 target bonus 100% of salary, LTI grant of $3.675M plus $1.6M RSU.","Severance if terminated without cause: 24 months base salary continuation plus bonus at 100% target; equity treatment per plans."],"urls":{"canonical":"https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000063296-26-000080","json":"https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000063296-26-000080.json","markdown":"https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000063296-26-000080.md","text":"https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000063296-26-000080.txt","edgar_index":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63296/000006329626000080/0000063296-26-000080-index.htm","edgar_primary_document":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63296/000006329626000080/matw-20260811.htm"},"model":{"generated_by":"deepseek-v4-flash:cloud@v2","generated_at":"2026-08-11T20:42:05.674872+00:00"},"review":{"review_status":"machine_generated","human_reviewed":false,"corrected":false,"correction_note":null,"correction_timestamp":null,"superseded_by":null,"related_filings":[]},"source_grounded_claims":[{"claim_id":"13046ee87f","claim":"Joseph C. Bartolacci departed as Director at MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORP.","evidence_excerpt":"Joseph C. Bartolacci, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, informed Matthews International Corporation (“Matthews” or the “Company”) of his decision to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer and resign as a director of the Company","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.02","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63296/000006329626000080/0000063296-26-000080-index.htm","confidence":0.95,"family_label":"Executive change","details":[{"label":"Action","value":"resign"},{"label":"Role","value":"Director"}],"fact_type":"executive_change"},{"claim_id":"67de0683a3","claim":"Joseph C. Bartolacci departed as President and Chief Executive Officer at MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORP.","evidence_excerpt":"Joseph C. Bartolacci, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, informed Matthews International Corporation (“Matthews” or the “Company”) of his decision to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer and resign as a director of the Company","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.02","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63296/000006329626000080/0000063296-26-000080-index.htm","confidence":0.95,"family_label":"Executive change","details":[{"label":"Action","value":"retire"},{"label":"Role","value":"President and Chief Executive Officer"}],"fact_type":"executive_change"},{"claim_id":"8e4163f6f0","claim":"Michael J. Whitehead was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORP.","evidence_excerpt":"On August 11, 2026 , the Board appointed Michael J. Whitehead, age 52, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and appointed Mr. Whitehead as a director on the Board, to become effective on August 31, 2026","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.02","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63296/000006329626000080/0000063296-26-000080-index.htm","confidence":0.95,"family_label":"Executive change","details":[{"label":"Action","value":"appointed"},{"label":"Role","value":"President and Chief Executive Officer"}],"fact_type":"executive_change"},{"claim_id":"fd7c7d82e6","claim":"Michael J. Whitehead was appointed as Director at MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORP.","evidence_excerpt":"On August 11, 2026 , the Board appointed Michael J. Whitehead, age 52, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and appointed Mr. Whitehead as a director on the Board, to become effective on August 31, 2026","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.02","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63296/000006329626000080/0000063296-26-000080-index.htm","confidence":0.95,"family_label":"Executive change","details":[{"label":"Action","value":"appointed"},{"label":"Role","value":"Director"}],"fact_type":"executive_change"}],"license":"Source filings: public domain (SEC EDGAR). Summaries (headline + bullets): CC-BY-4.0; attribute https://secwatch.observer"}