---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000822818-22-000045"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CLH"
cik: "0000822818"
company_name: "CLEAN HARBORS INC"
filed_at: "2022-11-02T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-22T16:12:37.357603+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Clean Harbors names CFO Battles and COO Gerstenberg as Co-CEOs; founder McKim becomes Executive Chairman

## Summary
- Founder Alan McKim steps down as CEO after 42 years; becomes Executive Chairman & CTO effective March 31, 2023.
- CFO Michael Battles and COO Eric Gerstenberg promoted to Co-CEOs effective March 31, 2023.
- Battles' base salary increases from $540K to $900K; Gerstenberg from $625K to $900K; McKim's reduced to $900K.
- Each Co-CEO gets 2023 performance shares at 85% of base salary and time-vesting shares at 285% of base salary.
- Battles' severance expands from 12 to 24 months; Gerstenberg remains at 24 months; McKim gets no severance agreement.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000822818-22-000045
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CLH
- cik: 0000822818
- company_name: CLEAN HARBORS INC
- filed_at: 2022-11-02T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01, 6.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822818/000082281822000045/0000822818-22-000045-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822818/000082281822000045/clh-20221101.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000822818-22-000045
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000822818-22-000045.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000822818-22-000045.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Michael L. Battles changed role as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President at CLEAN HARBORS INC.
  - Action: promoted
  - Role: Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President
  source text: Mr. Battles and Mr. Gerstenberg will, effective on March 31, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), be promoted to the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers and Co-Presidents
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822818/000082281822000045/0000822818-22-000045-index.htm
- Executive change
  Alan S. McKim changed role as Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer at CLEAN HARBORS INC.
  - Action: become
  - Role: Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer
  source text: Mr. McKim will become the Company’s Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822818/000082281822000045/0000822818-22-000045-index.htm
- Executive change
  Eric W. Gerstenberg changed role as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President at CLEAN HARBORS INC.
  - Action: promoted
  - Role: Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President
  source text: Mr. Battles and Mr. Gerstenberg will, effective on March 31, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), be promoted to the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers and Co-Presidents
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822818/000082281822000045/0000822818-22-000045-index.htm

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