---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001171843-22-002690"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WWD"
cik: "0000108312"
company_name: "Woodward, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-04-21T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-26T05:35:19.036938+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Woodward CEO Tom Gendron retiring May 9; Chip Blankenship named CEO, Chairman

## Summary
- Thomas Gendron retires after 31 years at Woodward, 17 as CEO; effective May 9, 2022.
- Charles Blankenship appointed CEO, President, and Chairman effective May 9, 2022.
- Blankenship base salary $1.1M, short-term target $1.265M, LTI target $4.8M.
- Sign-on incentives: $1M cash, $3.4M RSUs (3-yr vest), $2.2M stock options (4-yr vest).
- Gendron stays as director/officer through July 11 to assist transition.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001171843-22-002690
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WWD
- cik: 0000108312
- company_name: Woodward, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-04-21T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/108312/000117184322002690/0001171843-22-002690-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/108312/000117184322002690/f8k_042122.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171843-22-002690
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171843-22-002690.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171843-22-002690.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Thomas A. Gendron departed as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President at Woodward, Inc..
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
  source text: On April 16, 2022, Thomas A. Gendron, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Woodward, Inc. (“Woodward”, or the “Company”), notified the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) that he intends to retire from his role as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President effective May 9, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/108312/000117184322002690/0001171843-22-002690-index.htm
- Executive change
  Charles Blankenship was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman at Woodward, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman
  source text: Mr. Charles ("Chip") Blankenship, Jr. has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company effective May 9, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/108312/000117184322002690/0001171843-22-002690-index.htm

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