---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001739566-21-000139"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "UTZ"
cik: "0001739566"
company_name: "Utz Brands, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-07-26T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-30T02:40:15.064356+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Utz Brands announces C-suite changes: CFO becomes COO, new CFO appointed

## Summary
- Cary Devore promoted from EVP/CFO to EVP/COO effective Oct 4, 2021; salary stays at $500,000.
- Ajay Kataria named EVP/CFO effective Oct 4, 2021; salary increases to $450,000.
- Jim Sponaugle promoted to EVP/Chief People Officer effective Oct 4, 2021.
- EVP/CAO Todd Staub announces retirement effective Jan 3, 2022, after 25 years at Utz.
- Devore's COO role includes oversight of M&A, capital markets, and value creation initiatives.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001739566-21-000139
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: UTZ
- cik: 0001739566
- company_name: Utz Brands, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-07-26T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1739566/000173956621000139/0001739566-21-000139-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1739566/000173956621000139/utz-20210726.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001739566-21-000139
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001739566-21-000139.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001739566-21-000139.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Cary Devore was named as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Utz Brands, Inc..
  - Action: named
  - Role: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
  source text: Cary Devore, our current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, effective October 4, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1739566/000173956621000139/0001739566-21-000139-index.htm
- Executive change
  Ajay Kataria was named as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Utz Brands, Inc..
  - Action: named
  - Role: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  source text: the Company has named Ajay Kataria as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective October 4, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1739566/000173956621000139/0001739566-21-000139-index.htm

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