---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000101984-25-000081"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "UEIC"
cik: "0000101984"
company_name: "UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC"
filed_at: "2025-05-05T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-22T16:09:14.388286+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Universal Electronics CEO Arling retires; activist Kent Lake wins board seat; Office of CEO created

## Summary
- CEO Paul D. Arling retired effective May 1, 2025; CFO Bryan M. Hackworth becomes principal executive officer.
- Board appointed Michael D. Burger (Kent Lake nominee) as Class II director under Cooperation Agreement.
- Richard Carnifax promoted to COO; 'Office of CEO' established with Carnifax, Hackworth, and Ramzi Ammari.
- Cooperation Agreement includes standstill provisions (10% ownership cap) and voting commitments through 2026 annual meeting.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000101984-25-000081
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: UEIC
- cik: 0000101984
- company_name: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC
- filed_at: 2025-05-05T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/101984/000010198425000081/0000101984-25-000081-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/101984/000010198425000081/ueic-20250501.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000101984-25-000081
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000101984-25-000081.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000101984-25-000081.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Paul D. Arling retired as Chief Executive Officer at UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: In connection with the retirement of Paul D. Arling as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2025
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/101984/000010198425000081/0000101984-25-000081-index.htm
- Executive change
  Bryan M. Hackworth was appointed as Principal Executive Officer at UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Principal Executive Officer
  source text: Bryan M. Hackworth, the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer assumed the role of the Company’s principal executive officer
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/101984/000010198425000081/0000101984-25-000081-index.htm
- Executive change
  Richard Carnifax was appointed as Chief Operating Officer at UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
  - Action: promoted
  - Role: Chief Operating Officer
  source text: the Board approved the promotion of Richard Carnifax to the position of the Company’s Chief Operating Officer (the “COO”), effective immediately
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/101984/000010198425000081/0000101984-25-000081-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael D. Burger was appointed as Director at UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: on May 2, 2025, the Board appointed Mr. Burger as a Class II director, effective immediately
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/101984/000010198425000081/0000101984-25-000081-index.htm

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