---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-24-042851"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "NWL"
cik: "0000814453"
company_name: "NEWELL BRANDS INC."
filed_at: "2024-02-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-05T21:23:28.602750+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Newell Brands adds James Keane to board; names Bridget Ryan Berman Chair, three directors exiting

## Summary
- James Keane, retired Steelcase CEO, elected to board effective Feb 15; board size increased to 11.
- Robert Steele, Courtney Mather, and Jay Johnson will not seek re-election at 2024 annual meeting; board to shrink to 8.
- Bridget Ryan Berman designated next Board Chair, effective May 8, 2024, succeeding Robert Steele.
- Bylaws amended to reduce minimum number of directors from nine to eight.
- Keane will serve on Compensation Committee immediately and Audit Committee starting May 8, 2024.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-24-042851
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: NWL
- cik: 0000814453
- company_name: NEWELL BRANDS INC.
- filed_at: 2024-02-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 5.03, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000119312524042851/0001193125-24-042851-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000119312524042851/d760670d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-042851
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-042851.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-042851.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Robert Steele departed as Director at NEWELL BRANDS INC..
  - Action: not seek re-election
  - Role: Director
  source text: Robert Steele, Courtney Mather, and Jay Johnson have informed the Board of their preference not to seek re-election to the Company’s Board of Directors at its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in order to focus on other commitments.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000119312524042851/0001193125-24-042851-index.htm
- Executive change
  Courtney Mather departed as Director at NEWELL BRANDS INC..
  - Action: not seek re-election
  - Role: Director
  source text: Robert Steele, Courtney Mather, and Jay Johnson have informed the Board of their preference not to seek re-election to the Company’s Board of Directors at its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in order to focus on other commitments.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000119312524042851/0001193125-24-042851-index.htm
- Executive change
  Bridget Ryan Berman changed role as Chair of the Board at NEWELL BRANDS INC..
  - Action: designated
  - Role: Chair of the Board
  source text: On February 21, 2024, the Board designated Bridget Ryan Berman to serve as Chair of the Board, effective May 8, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000119312524042851/0001193125-24-042851-index.htm
- Executive change
  James Keane was elected as Director at NEWELL BRANDS INC..
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Director
  source text: On February 15, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Newell Brands Inc. (the “Company”) increased the size of the Board from ten members to eleven and elected James Keane to the Board of Directors, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000119312524042851/0001193125-24-042851-index.htm
- Executive change
  Jay Johnson departed as Director at NEWELL BRANDS INC..
  - Action: not seek re-election
  - Role: Director
  source text: Robert Steele, Courtney Mather, and Jay Johnson have informed the Board of their preference not to seek re-election to the Company’s Board of Directors at its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in order to focus on other commitments.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000119312524042851/0001193125-24-042851-index.htm
- Governance Changes
  NEWELL BRANDS INC.: Amended bylaws to reduce the minimum number of directors from nine to eight (effective 2024-02-21).
  - Change: bylaw amendment
  - Effective: 2024-02-21
  source text: On February 21, 2024, the Company’s Board approved amendments to the Company’s By-Laws, as previously amended on May 15, 2023 (as so amended, the “Amended By-Laws” and such amendments, the “By-Law Amendments”). The By-Law Amendments, which are effective immediately, update the minimum number of directors required to serve on the Board from nine to eight.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000119312524042851/0001193125-24-042851-index.htm

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