---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-25-003333"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BAX"
cik: "0000010456"
company_name: "BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC"
filed_at: "2025-01-31T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-27T04:30:29.223154+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.45
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.45
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Baxter appoints Anita Zielinski as Chief Accounting Officer, effective Feb 21, 2025

## Summary
- Anita Zielinski, 51, joins from Sysco where she was SVP & CFO of US Foodservice Operations (since 2022).
- She previously served as Sysco's SVP & Chief Accounting Officer (2017-2022) and was an audit partner at EY.
- Received a sign-on bonus of $150,000 with clawback provisions if employment terminates within 36 months.
- Joel Grade will cease as interim CAO/Principal Accounting Officer but remains EVP & CFO.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-25-003333
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BAX
- cik: 0000010456
- company_name: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC
- filed_at: 2025-01-31T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.45
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.45
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/10456/000162828025003333/0001628280-25-003333-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/10456/000162828025003333/bax-20250131.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-25-003333
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-25-003333.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-25-003333.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Anita Zielinski was elected as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller at BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
  source text: elected Ms. Anita Zielinski as its Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, effective as of February 21, 2025
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/10456/000162828025003333/0001628280-25-003333-index.htm
- Executive change
  Joel Grade changed role as interim Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer at BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
  - Action: cease serving
  - Role: interim Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer
  source text: Mr. Joel Grade will cease serving as the Company’s interim Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer and will continue serving as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/10456/000162828025003333/0001628280-25-003333-index.htm

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