---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-25-324829"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AVO"
cik: "0001802974"
company_name: "Mission Produce, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-12-18T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T12:46:23.856937+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.72
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Mission Produce CEO succession: COO Pawlowski to become CEO in April 2026; Barnard becomes Executive Chairman

## Summary
- John Pawlowski (current President & COO) to become President & CEO effective April 9, 2026; founder Steve Barnard transitions to Executive Chairman.
- Chairman Stephen Beebe to resign at 2026 Annual Meeting; Linda Segre named Lead Independent Director; Bonnie Lind not standing for re-election.
- Three new independent directors appointed in 2025: Michael Sims (May), Laura Flanagan (June), Douglas Stone (November) as part of board refreshment.
- Pawlowski’s employment agreement: $750k base salary, 100% target bonus, $2M initial equity grant; severance of 1.5x salary+bonus (2x in change of control).
- Barnard’s amended agreement: base salary 75% of then-current CEO in year 1, 50% in year 2; equity awards scaled at 75% / 50% of CEO target.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-25-324829
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AVO
- cik: 0001802974
- company_name: Mission Produce, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-12-18T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.72
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1802974/000119312525324829/0001193125-25-324829-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1802974/000119312525324829/d891316d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-324829
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-324829.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-324829.txt

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