---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-24-000198"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "COLD"
cik: "0001455863"
company_name: "AMERICOLD REALTY TRUST"
filed_at: "2024-01-03T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T04:37:48.919177+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Americold appoints Jay Wells as CFO; realigns leadership with Presidents for Americas and International

## Summary
- Marc Smernoff and Americold mutually agree to terminate CFO role effective Jan 12, 2024; separation benefits include 12 months salary & bonus, prorated equity vesting.
- Jay Wells, former CFO of Primo Water (2012-2023), becomes EVP & CFO effective Jan 15, 2024; base salary $575,000, 2024 target bonus 90% of base.
- Rob Chambers promoted to President, Americas from Chief Commercial Officer; base salary increased to $550,000, 2024 equity target $1,100,000.
- Richard Winnall promoted to President, International from COO International; base salary increased to AUD$610,000, target bonus raised to 75% of base.
- M. Bryan Verbarendse appointed EVP & COO, Americas (prev. COO North America); terms unchanged.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-24-000198
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: COLD
- cik: 0001455863
- company_name: AMERICOLD REALTY TRUST
- filed_at: 2024-01-03T23:59:59+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/1455863/000162828024000198/0001628280-24-000198-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1455863/000162828024000198/art-20240103.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-24-000198
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-24-000198.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-24-000198.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Marc J. Smernoff departed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at AMERICOLD REALTY TRUST.
  - Action: mutually agreed to terminate
  - Role: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  source text: it and Marc J. Smernoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, have mutually agreed that Mr. Smernoff’s employment with the Company will terminate effective January 12, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1455863/000162828024000198/0001628280-24-000198-index.htm
- Executive change
  Jay Wells was appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at AMERICOLD REALTY TRUST.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Jay Wells would be joining the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 15, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1455863/000162828024000198/0001628280-24-000198-index.htm

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