---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-24-227986"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CENT"
cik: "0000887733"
company_name: "CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO"
filed_at: "2024-09-27T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-31T01:22:09.897581+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Central Garden & Pet appoints Niko Lahanas as CEO, Brad Smith as CFO

## Summary
- Niko Lahanas, former CFO, becomes CEO and joins Board effective Sept 29, 2024.
- Brad Smith, former Pet Segment CFO, appointed CFO effective same date.
- Interim CEO Beth Springer returns to role of Lead Independent Director.
- Lahanas: annual base salary $900,000, target bonus 100%, target equity $1,000,000.
- Smith: annual base salary $450,000, target bonus 50%, target equity $250,000.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-24-227986
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CENT
- cik: 0000887733
- company_name: CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
- filed_at: 2024-09-27T23:59:59+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/887733/000119312524227986/0001193125-24-227986-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887733/000119312524227986/d885128d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-227986
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-227986.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-227986.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Bradley G. Smith was appointed as Chief Financial Officer at CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: the Board appointed Bradley G. Smith as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and designated him an executive officer of the Company, effective September 29, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887733/000119312524227986/0001193125-24-227986-index.htm
- Executive change
  Nicholas Lahanas resigned as Chief Financial Officer at CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Mr. Lahanas will resign as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer effective September 28, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887733/000119312524227986/0001193125-24-227986-index.htm
- Executive change
  Nicholas Lahanas was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board appointed Nicholas Lahanas as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board effective September 29, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887733/000119312524227986/0001193125-24-227986-index.htm

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