---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-23-172574"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CSV"
cik: "0001016281"
company_name: "CARRIAGE SERVICES INC"
filed_at: "2023-06-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-13T18:45:18.862875+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Carriage Services appoints Carlos Quezada as CEO; founder Mel Payne becomes Executive Chairman

## Summary
- Carlos Quezada, previously President & COO, named CEO effective June 21, 2023.
- Founder Melvin C. Payne steps down as CEO, becomes Executive Chairman of the Board.
- Steven D. Metzger appointed President, retains Secretary role; salary set at $600,000 with 125% STI target.
- New director Chad Fargason elected; Board commits to adding gender diversity in Q3 2023.
- Bylaws amended to mandate director resignation if majority support not received in uncontested elections.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-23-172574
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CSV
- cik: 0001016281
- company_name: CARRIAGE SERVICES INC
- filed_at: 2023-06-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 5.03, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1016281/000119312523172574/0001193125-23-172574-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1016281/000119312523172574/d523780d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-172574
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-172574.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-172574.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Melvin C. Payne was appointed as Executive Chairman of the Board at CARRIAGE SERVICES INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Executive Chairman of the Board
  source text: Mr. Payne stepped down as CEO of the Company and the Board approved his appointment as Executive Chairman of the Board, effective June 21, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1016281/000119312523172574/0001193125-23-172574-index.htm
- Executive change
  Steven D. Metzger was appointed as President at CARRIAGE SERVICES INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President
  source text: the Board appointed Steven D. Metzger, age 45, to serve as the Company’s President, along with remaining in his role as Secretary.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1016281/000119312523172574/0001193125-23-172574-index.htm
- Executive change
  Achille Messac resigned as Director at CARRIAGE SERVICES INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: On June 15, 2023, Dr. Achille Messac, a member of the Carriage Services, Inc. (the “Company”) Board of Directors (the “Board”), provided notice of his resignation from the Board of the Company, effective on that date.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1016281/000119312523172574/0001193125-23-172574-index.htm
- Executive change
  Carlos R. Quezada was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at CARRIAGE SERVICES INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board appointed Carlos R. Quezada, age 52, to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), effective June 21, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1016281/000119312523172574/0001193125-23-172574-index.htm
- Governance Changes
  CARRIAGE SERVICES INC: Amended and restated by-laws to remove Board's ability to reject a director's resignation in uncontested elections; also incorporated ministerial changes (effective 2023-06-21).
  - Change: bylaw amendment
  - Effective: 2023-06-21
  source text: On June 21, 2023, the Board approved and adopted amended and restated by-laws, effective as of June 21, 2023 (the “Amended and Restated By-laws”). Among other things, the amendments effected by the Amended and Restated By-laws remove the ability of the Board to reject the resignation of any director of the Board who fails to receive majority support from the Company’s stockholders in connection with an uncontested election of an incumbent director at an annual meeting of stockholders.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1016281/000119312523172574/0001193125-23-172574-index.htm

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