---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000071829-21-000124"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "NPKI"
cik: "0000071829"
company_name: "NPK International Inc."
filed_at: "2021-08-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-29T08:31:09.847411+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Newpark Resources CEO Paul Howes to retire Feb 2022; Matthew Lanigan named successor

## Summary
- CEO Paul Howes to retire as officer on Feb 28, 2022; Matthew Lanigan to succeed as President & CEO.
- Lanigan promoted to President & COO effective Sept 1, 2021; will report to Howes until retirement.
- Lori Briggs promoted to President of Newpark Industrial Solutions, replacing Lanigan, effective Sept 1.
- Lanigan receives $450k base salary, 100k RSUs (3-year vest); Briggs receives $350k base, 50k RSUs.
- Cash retention awards: $500k each to Gregg Piontek and David Paterson, $250k to Chipman Earle, vest Sept 2023.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000071829-21-000124
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: NPKI
- cik: 0000071829
- company_name: NPK International Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-08-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/71829/000007182921000124/0000071829-21-000124-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/71829/000007182921000124/nr-20210817.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000071829-21-000124
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000071829-21-000124.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000071829-21-000124.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Paul L. Howes changed role as Chief Executive Officer at NPK International Inc..
  - Action: title change
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Effective September 1, 2021, Mr. Howes’ title will change from 'President and Chief Executive Officer' to 'Chief Executive Officer'.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/71829/000007182921000124/0000071829-21-000124-index.htm
- Executive change
  Paul L. Howes departed as President and Chief Executive Officer at NPK International Inc..
  - Action: retire
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Paul L. Howes, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, intends to retire on February 28, 2022 (the “Retirement Date”) as an officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/71829/000007182921000124/0000071829-21-000124-index.htm
- Executive change
  Lori Briggs was appointed as Vice President of the Company and President of Newpark Industrial Solutions at NPK International Inc..
  - Action: succeed
  - Role: Vice President of the Company and President of Newpark Industrial Solutions
  source text: Ms. Lori Briggs will succeed Mr. Lanigan as Vice President of the Company and President of Newpark Industrial Solutions effective September 1, 2021, and she will continue to report to Mr. Lanigan.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/71829/000007182921000124/0000071829-21-000124-index.htm
- Executive change
  Matthew Lanigan changed role as President and Chief Operating Officer at NPK International Inc..
  - Action: promoted
  - Role: President and Chief Operating Officer
  source text: Mr. Lanigan has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective September 1, 2021, and he will continue to report to Mr. Howes until Mr. Howes’ retirement as an officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/71829/000007182921000124/0000071829-21-000124-index.htm
- Executive change
  Matthew Lanigan was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at NPK International Inc..
  - Action: succeed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: The Company also announced that Matthew Lanigan, 50, will ultimately succeed Mr. Howes as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective immediately following the retirement of Mr. Howes as an officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/71829/000007182921000124/0000071829-21-000124-index.htm

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