---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001558370-21-017004"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CVGW"
cik: "0001133470"
company_name: "CALAVO GROWERS INC"
filed_at: "2021-12-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-27T22:49:50.332774+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Calavo Growers appoints Brian Kocher as CEO effective Feb 1, 2022

## Summary
- Brian Kocher named President and CEO; base salary $800,000, eligible for bonus 100-200% of base.
- Signing bonus of $1,200,000 in restricted stock vesting over three years.
- Relocation allowance of $325,000 provided; repayable if Kocher leaves within two years without good reason.
- Interim CEO Steve Hollister resigns effective Feb 1, remains on board as independent director.
- Kocher previously President and CEO of Castellini Group, and held exec roles at Chiquita.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001558370-21-017004
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CVGW
- cik: 0001133470
- company_name: CALAVO GROWERS INC
- filed_at: 2021-12-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837021017004/0001558370-21-017004-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837021017004/cvgw-20211220x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-21-017004
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-21-017004.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-21-017004.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Brian Kocher was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at CALAVO GROWERS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On December 20, 2021, Calavo Growers, Inc. (“Calavo”) appointed Brian Kocher, as Chief Executive Officer, commencing February 1, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837021017004/0001558370-21-017004-index.htm
- Executive change
  Steve Hollister resigned as interim Chief Executive Officer at CALAVO GROWERS INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Steve Hollister has therefore resigned as Calavo’s interim Chief Executive Officer effective upon Mr. Kocher’s start date, at which time Mr. Hollister will remain a member of Calavo’s board of directors and resume his status as an independent director.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837021017004/0001558370-21-017004-index.htm

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