Park Aerospace Corp. Announces the Election of Constantine (“Gus”) Petropoulos as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Capital Markets Officer of the Company
Rhea-AI Summary
Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE) announced on January 14, 2026 the election of Constantine “Gus” Petropoulos as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Capital Markets Officer.
Mr. Petropoulos previously served as Senior Vice President-Administration and General Counsel since February 2025 and will continue to report to Brian E. Shore, Chairman and CEO. He earlier served as Park’s Senior VP and General Counsel from September 2014 to May 2021, was a partner at Hughes Hubbard from May 2021 to July 2024, and holds a BA in Economics and Government and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Park develops advanced composite materials and composite parts for global aerospace markets.
Positive
- Promotes internal continuity: rejoined company in Feb 2025
- Extensive prior Park experience: General Counsel 2014–2021
- Relevant private‑practice experience: partner at Hughes Hubbard May 2021–Jul 2024
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – PKE
On the day this news was published, PKE gained 9.58%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +5.5% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 13 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $44M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $509M at that time. Trading volume was very high at 3.7x the daily average, suggesting strong buying interest.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
PKE was down 2.8% with elevated volume, while peers showed mixed moves: SWBI up 0.66%, SATL down 3.77%, TATT down 0.97%, BYRN down 4.67%, EVTL down 7.09%, and RDW down 4.53%. This pattern points to stock-specific trading rather than a unified sector rotation.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13 | Earnings release | Positive | -2.8% | Q3 FY2026 net sales and earnings rose sharply year over year. |
| Jan 08 | Earnings scheduling | Neutral | +3.9% | Announced timing and access details for Q3 earnings release and call. |
| Dec 08 | Dividend declaration | Positive | +1.2% | Declared $0.125 quarterly dividend, extending 40 years of payments. |
| Oct 09 | Earnings release | Positive | +1.0% | Reported Q2 FY2026 results with improved gross margin and earnings. |
| Oct 06 | Earnings scheduling | Neutral | +0.3% | Set date and logistics for Q2 FY2026 earnings release and call. |
Recent news has generally seen PKE trade modestly higher on dividends, earnings, and scheduling updates, with one notable divergence where strong Q3 earnings coincided with a 2.8% decline.
Over the last few months, Park Aerospace has focused on earnings strength and shareholder returns. Q2 and Q3 FY2026 earnings (news IDs 915938 and 956887) highlighted margin improvements and rising net earnings, while a December dividend declaration (news ID 945255) extended a long history of cash returns. Earnings release and conference call scheduling updates (news IDs 913971 and 955137) framed these results. Today’s leadership change in legal and capital markets functions follows shortly after these financial and capital-structure developments.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3 shelf filed on 2026-01-13 allows Park Aerospace to offer up to $150,000,000 of common stock and warrants, including an at-the-market program for up to $50,000,000 of common stock. This provides flexibility to raise equity for general corporate and growth purposes, which could expand the share count if utilized.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved +9.6% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with Park’s generally constructive responses to dividends and prior earnings updates. The appointment of a Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Capital Markets Officer followed shortly after an S-3 shelf filing for up to $150,000,000 and an at-the-market facility of up to $50,000,000. Investors would need to weigh leadership changes, potential future equity issuance, and the stock’s position near 52-week highs when assessing durability.
Key Terms
unmanned aerial vehicles (uavs) technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
NEWTON, Kan., Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Park Aerospace Corp. (NYSE-PKE) announced the election of Constantine (“Gus”) Petropoulos as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Capital Markets Officer of the Company. Prior to this election, Gus served as Senior Vice President-Administration and General Counsel of the Company since February of 2025. Mr. Petropoulos will continue to report to Brian E. Shore, Park’s Chairman and CEO.
Prior to joining Park as its Senior Vice President-Administration and General Counsel in February of 2025, Gus served as a Partner at Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, a prominent New York law firm, from May 2021 to July 2024. Prior to Hughes Hubbard, Gus served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Park Aerospace from September 2014 to May 2021. Prior to joining Park Aerospace in September 2014, Gus served as Managing Counsel at Scientific Games Corporation from October 2011 to September 2014, as Senior Corporate Counsel at Coca-Cola HBC SA in Greece from September 2007 to October 2011, and as a senior associate attorney at the New York law firm of Latham & Watkins from September 2002 to August 2007. Gus received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Government from Saint Lawrence University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Brian Shore said, “Congratulations, Gus, on being elected as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Capital Markets Officer of Park. Suffice it to say that the timing of Gus’s election to this new position could not be better.”
Park Aerospace Corp. develops and manufactures solution and hot-melt advanced composite materials used to produce composite structures for the global aerospace markets. Park’s advanced composite materials include film adhesives (Aeroadhere®) and lightning strike protection materials (Electroglide®). Park offers an array of composite materials specifically designed for hand lay-up or automated fiber placement (AFP) manufacturing applications. Park’s advanced composite materials are used to produce primary and secondary structures for jet engines, large and regional transport aircraft, military aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs commonly referred to as “drones”), business jets, general aviation aircraft and rotary wing aircraft. Park also offers specialty ablative materials for rocket motors and nozzles and specially designed materials for radome applications. As a complement to Park’s advanced composite materials offering, Park designs and fabricates composite parts, structures and assemblies and low volume tooling for the aerospace industry. Target markets for Park’s composite parts and structures (which include Park’s proprietary composite SigmaStrut™ and AlphaStrut™ product lines) are, among others, prototype and development aircraft, special mission aircraft, spares for legacy military and civilian aircraft and exotic spacecraft. Park’s objective is to do what others are either unwilling or unable to do. When nobody else wants to do it because it is too difficult, too small or too annoying, sign us up.
Additional corporate information is available on the Company’s website at www.parkaerospace.com.
| Contact: Donna D’Amico-Annitto | 486 North Oliver Road, Bldg. Z |
| Newton, Kansas 67114 | |
| (316) 283-6500 |
FAQ
Who is Constantine “Gus” Petropoulos and what role did Park Aerospace (PKE) name him to on January 14, 2026?
When did Gus Petropoulos rejoin Park Aerospace before his January 2026 promotion?
To whom will the new Park Aerospace (PKE) legal and capital markets officer report?
What prior Park Aerospace experience does Gus Petropoulos have that relates to his new role at PKE?
What outside legal experience does Park Aerospace’s new Chief Legal and Capital Markets Officer have?
What does Park Aerospace (PKE) make and supply to the aerospace industry?
