---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001443984-23-000312"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SMG"
cik: "0000825542"
company_name: "SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO"
filed_at: "2023-11-16T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-08T01:48:03.286892+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Denise Stump departs as EVP Global HR; separation agreement provides 24-month salary, $30K outplacement, equity vesting

## Summary
- Denise Stump, former EVP Global HR and Chief Ethics Officer, departed Oct 1, 2023; separation agreement signed Nov 12, 2023.
- Severance includes 24 months salary, two times target bonus (paid in installments), $30,000 outplacement lump sum.
- Stock options: 4,869 (Feb 2021) and 25,064 (Nov 2022) vested on termination; RSUs and performance units vest on schedule.
- Company aircraft personal use available for two years at her expense; noncompete and confidentiality obligations continue.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001443984-23-000312
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SMG
- cik: 0000825542
- company_name: SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO
- filed_at: 2023-11-16T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/825542/000144398423000312/0001443984-23-000312-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/825542/000144398423000312/smg-20231116.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001443984-23-000312
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001443984-23-000312.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001443984-23-000312.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Denise Stump departed as Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources and Chief Ethics Officer at SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO.
  - Action: departed
  - Role: Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources and Chief Ethics Officer
  source text: On September 27, 2023, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (the “Company”) reported that Denise Stump, the Company’s former Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources and Chief Ethics Officer, would be departing the Company on October 1, 2023 (the “Termination Date”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/825542/000144398423000312/0001443984-23-000312-index.htm

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