---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001739566-24-000144"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "UTZ"
cik: "0001739566"
company_name: "Utz Brands, Inc."
filed_at: "2024-08-20T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-31T08:29:20.394748+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Utz Brands announces retirement of director Michael Rice and appointment of William Werzyn Jr.

## Summary
- Michael W. Rice retired from the Board effective August 20, 2024, after over 50 years with the company; he will remain an observer.
- William 'B.J.' Werzyn Jr., CEO of West Shore Home, appointed to fill the vacancy effective August 20, 2024.
- Werzyn will receive an annual cash retainer of $87,500 and equity retainer of $130,000 in RSUs, prorated for first year.
- Werzyn's appointment was recommended by UM Partners LLC under the Investor Rights Agreement; no disagreements with Rice's departure.
- Rice is credited with diversifying Utz's product lines and expanding geographic footprint beyond Pennsylvania and Maryland.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001739566-24-000144
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: UTZ
- cik: 0001739566
- company_name: Utz Brands, Inc.
- filed_at: 2024-08-20T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1739566/000173956624000144/0001739566-24-000144-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1739566/000173956624000144/utz-20240819.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001739566-24-000144
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001739566-24-000144.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001739566-24-000144.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: 8015f9642c
  claim: William Werzyn Jr. was elected as Director at Utz Brands, Inc..
  evidence_excerpt: Effective August 20, 2024, the Board elected William Werzyn Jr. to serve as a member of the Board, to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Rice following his retirement and resignation.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1739566/000173956624000144/0001739566-24-000144-index.htm
- claim_id: 87d9a9f3fa
  claim: Michael W. Rice retired as Director at Utz Brands, Inc..
  evidence_excerpt: On August 19, 2024, Michael W. Rice, a non-employee director of Utz Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), announced his retirement and tendered his resignation from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) effective August 20, 2024, which has been accepted by the Board.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1739566/000173956624000144/0001739566-24-000144-index.htm

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