---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001558370-23-003740"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CVGW"
cik: "0001133470"
company_name: "CALAVO GROWERS INC"
filed_at: "2023-03-14T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-18T02:51:13.120649+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Calavo appoints Lecil Cole as President and CEO; Brian Kocher terminated without cause

## Summary
- Lecil Cole (age 83) appointed President and CEO effective March 10, 2023; he previously served as Chairman/CEO until 2020.
- Cole receives annual base salary of $64,480 (minimum wage for exempt employee) and option for 500,000 shares with price milestones of $50, $60, $70.
- Brian Kocher terminated without cause on March 10, 2023; entitled to severance per employment agreement; resigned from board.
- In fiscal 2022, Calavo purchased ~$14.7M of produce from entities affiliated with Cole; no purchases in fiscal 2023 to date.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001558370-23-003740
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CVGW
- cik: 0001133470
- company_name: CALAVO GROWERS INC
- filed_at: 2023-03-14T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837023003740/0001558370-23-003740-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837023003740/cvgw-20230308x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-23-003740
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-23-003740.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-23-003740.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Lecil Cole was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at CALAVO GROWERS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Company determined to appoint Lecil Cole as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, effective as of March 10, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837023003740/0001558370-23-003740-index.htm
- Executive change
  Brian Kocher resigned as Director at CALAVO GROWERS INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: Mr. Kocher tendered his resignation from the Board of Directors on March 14, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837023003740/0001558370-23-003740-index.htm
- Executive change
  Brian Kocher departed as President and Chief Executive Officer at CALAVO GROWERS INC.
  - Action: terminated without cause
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Company informed Brian Kocher that his employment as President and Chief Executive Officer would be terminated without cause on March 10, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1133470/000155837023003740/0001558370-23-003740-index.htm

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