---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001589526-24-000079"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BLBD"
cik: "0001589526"
company_name: "Blue Bird Corp"
filed_at: "2024-08-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-31T11:45:39.700932+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Blue Bird appoints Britton Smith as President & CEO, effective Sept 29, 2024; Doug Grimm named Chairman

## Summary
- Britton Smith succeeds Phil Horlock as CEO; Horlock resigns effective Sept 28, 2024, remains on Board.
- Smith's compensation: base salary $650k, cash bonus target 150% of base, LTIP target 175% of base for FY2025.
- Doug Grimm elected Chairman effective Aug 7, 2024, replacing Kevin Penn who remains as director.
- Smith also elected to the Board as Class I director effective Aug 7, filling vacancy from Gurminder Bedi's resignation.
- Leadership changes are part of a planned transition; Smith previously served as President since June 2023.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001589526-24-000079
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BLBD
- cik: 0001589526
- company_name: Blue Bird Corp
- filed_at: 2024-08-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952624000079/0001589526-24-000079-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952624000079/blbd-20240802.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001589526-24-000079
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001589526-24-000079.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001589526-24-000079.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Britton Smith was elected as Class I Director at Blue Bird Corp.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Class I Director
  source text: the Board elected Mr. Britton Smith, currently our President, as a Class I director of the Company effective August 7, 2024, to fill the vacancy created by the prior resignation of Mr. Gurminder Bedi.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952624000079/0001589526-24-000079-index.htm
- Executive change
  Philip Horlock departed as Chief Executive Officer at Blue Bird Corp.
  - Action: resign
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: our current CEO, Mr. Philip Horlock, will resign from the CEO position effective as of close of business on September 28, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952624000079/0001589526-24-000079-index.htm
- Executive change
  Britton Smith was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at Blue Bird Corp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: appointed Mr. Britton Smith, currently our President, to the positions of President and CEO of the Company, effective September 29, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1589526/000158952624000079/0001589526-24-000079-index.htm

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