8-K
filed September 10, 2026, 4:42 PM ET
ticker KAI
CIK 0000886346
leadership
confidence high
sentiment neutral
materiality 0.65
Kadant names Michael Colwell as next CEO; Powell to executive chairman, Painter to retire
KADANT INC
- Michael C. Colwell appointed president & COO effective Oct 1, 2026; becomes president & CEO and director on Jan 2, 2027.
- Jeffrey L. Powell to become executive chairman on Jan 2, 2027; will retire on Jan 1, 2028 and then serve as non-executive chairman.
- Jonathan W. Painter to step down as chairman and director on Jan 2, 2027; no disagreement cited.
- Powell transition agreement: salary $998,900 until Jan 2, 2027, then $499,450; target bonuses $1,038,000 (FY2026) and $519,000 (FY2027).
- Unvested RSUs accelerate if Powell stays through retirement; potential March 2027 RSU grant valued at $1,862,000.
Key facts
Extracted from this filing and checked against the source text.
Executive change
SEC 8-K Item 5.02
confidence 0.95
Michael C. Colwell was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at KADANT INC.
- Action
- appointed
- Role
- President and Chief Executive Officer
Exact text from the filing
president and chief executive officer effective January 2, 2027
View on SEC.gov
Executive change
SEC 8-K Item 5.02
confidence 0.95
Michael C. Colwell was appointed as President and Chief Operating Officer at KADANT INC.
- Action
- appointed
- Role
- President and Chief Operating Officer
Exact text from the filing
the Board appointed Michael C. Colwell to serve as president and chief operating officer effective October 1, 2026
View on SEC.gov
Executive change
SEC 8-K Item 5.02
confidence 0.95
Jeffrey L. Powell changed role as Executive Chairman at KADANT INC.
- Action
- become
- Role
- Executive Chairman
Exact text from the filing
As part of the Succession Plan, Jeffrey L. Powell will continue to serve as president through September 30, 2026, and chief executive officer through January 2, 2027, at which time he will become executive chairman of the Board.
View on SEC.gov
Executive change
SEC 8-K Item 5.02
confidence 0.95
Jonathan W. Painter departed as Chairman of the Board at KADANT INC.
- Action
- cease to serve
- Role
- Chairman of the Board
Exact text from the filing
In addition, on September 10, 2026, Jonathan W. Painter notified the Company that he will cease to serve as a director on January 2, 2027.
View on SEC.gov
Executive change
SEC 8-K Item 5.02
confidence 0.95
Michael C. Colwell was appointed as Member of the Board at KADANT INC.
- Action
- appointed
- Role
- Member of the Board
Exact text from the filing
In addition, the Board appointed Mr. Colwell to serve as a member of the Board effective January 2, 2027.
View on SEC.gov
Executive change
SEC 8-K Item 5.02
confidence 0.95
Jeffrey L. Powell changed role as Non-Executive Chairman at KADANT INC.
- Action
- become
- Role
- Non-Executive Chairman
Exact text from the filing
Mr. Powell will step down as executive chairman upon his retirement on January 1, 2028 (the “Retirement Date”), but is expected to remain a director and to serve as non-executive chairman of the Board.
View on SEC.gov
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