---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001332349-25-000136"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BKD"
cik: "0001332349"
company_name: "Brookdale Senior Living Inc."
filed_at: "2025-10-02T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-17T04:54:39.273795+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Brookdale appoints Nick Stengle as CEO effective Oct 6, 2025; background in senior living and hospitality

## Summary
- Nick Stengle appointed CEO and Board member effective Oct 6, 2025; interim CEO Denise Warren returns to Non-Executive Chairman.
- Stengle previously President/COO of Gentiva (12,000 associates, 550 locations) and EVP/COO of Sunrise Senior Living (250 communities).
- Compensation: $950K base salary, 140% target bonus, $370K sign-on, $4.65M 2026 LTI target, initial RSU grant of ~$3.16M.
- Employment agreement three-year term; severance: 150% (non-CIC) or 200% (CIC) of base plus target bonus, plus COBRA.
- Board expanded to nine directors; eight independent. Office of the CEO dissolved; CFO and GC remain in current roles.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001332349-25-000136
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BKD
- cik: 0001332349
- company_name: Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-10-02T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1332349/000133234925000136/0001332349-25-000136-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1332349/000133234925000136/bkd-20251002.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001332349-25-000136
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001332349-25-000136.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001332349-25-000136.txt

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