---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001589526-23-000050"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BLBD"
cik: "0001589526"
company_name: "Blue Bird Corp"
filed_at: "2023-05-16T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-14T23:40:49.428631+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Blue Bird CEO Matthew Stevenson resigns; Philip Horlock appointed as President and CEO

## Summary
- Stevenson resigned as President, CEO, and Board director on May 13, 2023, effective immediately; employment ends June 5, 2023.
- Resignation not based on any disagreement with the Company regarding operations, policies, or practices.
- Board appointed Philip Horlock as President and CEO on May 14, 2023.
- Horlock served as CEO from 2015 to October 2021 and was a consultant with annual salary rate of $800,000.
- Horlock's compensation as CEO not finalized as of filing date.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001589526-23-000050
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BLBD
- cik: 0001589526
- company_name: Blue Bird Corp
- filed_at: 2023-05-16T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952623000050/0001589526-23-000050-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952623000050/blbd-20230513.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001589526-23-000050
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001589526-23-000050.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001589526-23-000050.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Philip Horlock was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at Blue Bird Corp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On May 14, 2023, the Board of Directors appointed Philip Horlock as President and CEO of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952623000050/0001589526-23-000050-index.htm
- Executive change
  Matthew Stevenson resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer at Blue Bird Corp.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On May 13, 2023, Matthew Stevenson, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and a Class II director of Blue Bird Corporation (the “Company”), tendered his resignation from employment and from our Board of Directors (the “Board”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952623000050/0001589526-23-000050-index.htm

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