---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001214659-24-018628"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "EML"
cik: "0000031107"
company_name: "EASTERN CO"
filed_at: "2024-11-08T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-30T03:05:00.568112+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# CEO Mark Hernandez resigns; Ryan Schroeder appointed CEO effective Nov 6, 2024

## Summary
- Hernandez received $530,500 base salary severance paid over 12 months, plus $140,787 bonus, 14,800 stock units vest, and $47,206 vacation payout.
- New CEO Ryan Schroeder will receive $475,000 base salary, STIP target 75% of base, LTIP target 75% of base.
- Schroeder previously served as CEO at Plaskolite LLC and President Americas at IMI Norgren.
- Hernandez resigned from Board and all positions; no disagreement cited.
- Separation agreement includes 12-month non-compete and non-solicitation covenants.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001214659-24-018628
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: EML
- cik: 0000031107
- company_name: EASTERN CO
- filed_at: 2024-11-08T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31107/000121465924018628/0001214659-24-018628-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31107/000121465924018628/y1182418k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001214659-24-018628
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001214659-24-018628.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001214659-24-018628.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Mark A. Hernandez resigned as Chief Executive Officer at EASTERN CO.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Mark A. Hernandez resigned as Chief Executive Officer of The Eastern Company (the "Company"), and from service on the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") and all other officer, director, trustee, fiduciary and other positions with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, effective as of the Separation Date.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31107/000121465924018628/0001214659-24-018628-index.htm
- Executive change
  Ryan Schroeder was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at EASTERN CO.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On November 4, 2024, the Company appointed Ryan Schroeder to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective November 6, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/31107/000121465924018628/0001214659-24-018628-index.htm

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