---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-26-201479"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CRI"
cik: "0001060822"
company_name: "CARTERS INC"
filed_at: "2026-05-01T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T00:12:53.147551+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Carter's appoints Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price John as President & CEO; reaffirms FY2026 outlook

## Summary
- Sharon Price John named CEO and President effective June 15, 2026; succeeds departing CEO Douglas Palladini.
- John joins from Build-A-Bear (NYSE: BBW), where she served as CEO for 13 years, driving record results.
- Richard Westenberger to serve as Interim CEO until June 15; remains CFO & COO.
- Company reaffirms Q1 and full-year FY2026 outlook provided on February 27, 2026.
- John's compensation: base salary $1.3M, target cash bonus 175%, sign-on equity $6.5M, one-time bonus $500k.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-26-201479
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CRI
- cik: 0001060822
- company_name: CARTERS INC
- filed_at: 2026-05-01T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1060822/000119312526201479/0001193125-26-201479-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1060822/000119312526201479/d112628d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-201479
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-201479.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-201479.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  CARTERS INC updated its first quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 guidance (reaffirmed).
  - Period: first quarter and full-year fiscal 2026
  - Guidance: reaffirmed
  - Result: guidance update
  source text: The Company today also reaffirmed its first quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 outlook that was provided on February 27, 2026.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1060822/000119312526201479/0001193125-26-201479-index.htm
- Executive change
  Sharon Price John was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and President at CARTERS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer and President
  source text: On May 1, 2026, the Company announced that the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved the appointment of Sharon Price John as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and a member of the Board, effective June 15, 2026
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1060822/000119312526201479/0001193125-26-201479-index.htm
- Executive change
  Sharon Price John was appointed as director at CARTERS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: director
  source text: On May 1, 2026, the Company announced that the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved the appointment of Sharon Price John as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and a member of the Board, effective June 15, 2026
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1060822/000119312526201479/0001193125-26-201479-index.htm

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