---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001564590-22-000307"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SAIA"
cik: "0001177702"
company_name: "SAIA INC"
filed_at: "2022-01-04T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-27T20:51:38.931228+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.35
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Saia appoints Kelly Benton as VP and Controller, principal accounting officer

## Summary
- Kelly Benton appointed VP and Controller, effective Jan 3, 2022; will serve as principal accounting officer.
- Benton previously VP of Accounting at RaceTrac (2011-2021) and Ernst & Young (2002-2011); CPA in Georgia.
- Compensation includes $350K salary, $100K sign-on bonus, and $100K retention bonus vested Jan 3, 2023.
- Target annual incentive at 50% of salary; long-term equity target at 60% of salary (PSUs, RSUs, options).
- No family relationships or conflicts reported; no arrangement with any person for her appointment.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001564590-22-000307
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SAIA
- cik: 0001177702
- company_name: SAIA INC
- filed_at: 2022-01-04T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.35
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1177702/000156459022000307/0001564590-22-000307-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1177702/000156459022000307/saia-8k_20220103.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-22-000307
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-22-000307.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-22-000307.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Kelly Benton was appointed as Vice President and Controller at SAIA INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Vice President and Controller
  source text: The Board of the Company has appointed Kelly Benton, 46, as the Vice President and Controller of the Company effective January 3, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1177702/000156459022000307/0001564590-22-000307-index.htm

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