---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000886346-21-000147"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "KAI"
cik: "0000886346"
company_name: "KADANT INC"
filed_at: "2021-10-29T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T16:25:48.273659+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Kadant COO Eric Langevin to retire March 31, 2022; two VPs to assume responsibilities

## Summary
- Eric T. Langevin, EVP and COO, will retire effective March 31, 2022; no successor COO appointed.
- Fredrik Han Westerhout and Thomas Andrew Blanchard to become executive officers, each overseeing parts of COO's responsibilities.
- Langevin will receive $39,850/month for 3 months post-retirement, 50% of 2022 bonus, and COBRA through Dec 2022.
- Unvested RSUs from 2019/2020 and one-third of 2021 grants to vest on separation; confidentiality and non-compete apply.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000886346-21-000147
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: KAI
- cik: 0000886346
- company_name: KADANT INC
- filed_at: 2021-10-29T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886346/000088634621000147/0000886346-21-000147-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886346/000088634621000147/kai-20211027.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886346-21-000147
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886346-21-000147.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886346-21-000147.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Thomas Andrew Blanchard was appointed as Vice President at KADANT INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Vice President
  source text: Together, Mr. Fredrik Han Westerhout and Mr. Thomas Andrew Blanchard, who will become vice presidents and executive officers of the Company, will each have supervisory responsibility for certain parts of the Company’s flow control and material handling segments, respectively, which Mr. Langevin has responsibility for now.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886346/000088634621000147/0000886346-21-000147-index.htm
- Executive change
  Eric T. Langevin retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at KADANT INC.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
  source text: Eric T. Langevin, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kadant Inc. (the “Company”), will retire from the Company on March 31, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886346/000088634621000147/0000886346-21-000147-index.htm
- Executive change
  Fredrik Han Westerhout was appointed as Vice President at KADANT INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Vice President
  source text: Together, Mr. Fredrik Han Westerhout and Mr. Thomas Andrew Blanchard, who will become vice presidents and executive officers of the Company, will each have supervisory responsibility for certain parts of the Company’s flow control and material handling segments, respectively, which Mr. Langevin has responsibility for now.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886346/000088634621000147/0000886346-21-000147-index.htm

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