Does Cardinal Health (CAH) report any related-party relationships for Anita Zielinski?

Cardinal Health states that Zielinski has no family relationships with its directors or executive officers, no arrangements with other persons for her selection, and no transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K related to her appointment.

Cardinal Health names new chief accounting officer

Q: What executive change did Cardinal Health (CAH) announce regarding its Chief Accounting Officer?

Cardinal Health appointed Anita Zielinski as Chief Accounting Officer, effective November 5, 2026. She will join as Senior Vice President Finance on September 16, succeeding Mary Scherer, who will continue as Chief Accounting Officer until the effective transition date.

Cardinal Health, Inc. appointed Anita Zielinski as Chief Accounting Officer, effective November 5, 2026.

Accepted by SEC EDGAR 08/05/2026 - 06:39 AM EDT

Filing Impact

(Moderate)

Filing Sentiment

(Neutral)How Sentiment works

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Form Type

8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Cardinal Health, Inc. appointed Anita Zielinski as Chief Accounting Officer, effective November 5, 2026. She will join as Senior Vice President Finance on September 16 and succeed Mary Scherer, who will remain Chief Accounting Officer through November 5, 2026.

Zielinski, 52, previously held senior finance and accounting roles at Baxter International and Sysco, and was a partner at Ernst & Young. Her compensation includes an annual base salary, annual cash bonus under the Management Incentive Plan, equity under the long-term incentive program, a $750,000 cash sign-on bonus, and an initial grant of time-vesting restricted share units with a grant date value of $1,000,000 that vest ratably over three years.

8-K Event Classification

Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers

1 item

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Key Figures

Cash sign-on bonus: $750,000 Initial RSU grant value: $1,000,000 Vesting period: 3 years +1 more

4 metrics

Cash sign-on bonus $750,000 One-time cash sign-on bonus for Anita Zielinski

Initial RSU grant value $1,000,000 Time-vesting restricted share units vesting ratably over three years

Vesting period 3 years Initial RSU grant vests ratably over three years

Age of appointee 52 Age of Anita Zielinski at the time of appointment

Key Terms

Management Incentive Plan, restricted share units, long-term incentive program, Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K

4 terms

Management Incentive Plan financial

"an annual cash bonus under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan"

A management incentive plan is a structured pay program that rewards company executives and senior managers when they meet specific goals, using cash bonuses, stock awards, or options. It matters to investors because it helps align leaders’ actions with shareholder interests—like tying a coach’s bonus to a team’s wins—while influencing retention, risk-taking and potential share dilution, all of which can affect company performance and stock value.

long-term incentive program financial

"annual equity-based awards pursuant to the Company’s long-term incentive program"

A long-term incentive program is a company plan that pays executives or employees rewards—often stock, options, or cash—only if the business hits performance goals over several years. It matters to investors because these payouts align managers’ interests with shareholders, encouraging decisions that boost sustained growth and share value rather than short-term gains; think of it as a multi-year bonus tied to measurable company outcomes.

Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K regulatory

"no transactions required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K"

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What executive change did Cardinal Health (CAH) announce regarding its Chief Accounting Officer?

Cardinal Health appointed Anita Zielinski as Chief Accounting Officer, effective November 5, 2026. She will join as Senior Vice President Finance on September 16, succeeding Mary Scherer, who will continue as Chief Accounting Officer until the effective transition date.

What is the compensation package for Anita Zielinski at Cardinal Health (CAH)?

Anita Zielinski will receive an annual base salary, an annual cash bonus under the Management Incentive Plan, and annual equity awards. She will also receive a $750,000 cash sign-on bonus and $1,000,000 in time-vesting restricted share units vesting over three years.

What is Anita Zielinski’s professional background before joining Cardinal Health (CAH)?

Before joining Cardinal Health, Anita Zielinski served as interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer at Baxter International, held senior finance and accounting roles at Sysco, and spent over twenty years in Ernst & Young’s assurance practice, including as a partner starting in 2013.

What equity awards will Anita Zielinski receive from Cardinal Health (CAH)?

Zielinski will receive annual equity-based awards under the company’s long-term incentive program. In addition, she will receive an initial grant of time-vesting restricted share units with a grant date value of $1,000,000, vesting ratably over three years.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 4, 2026

Cardinal Health, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio

1-11373

31-0958666

(State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

7000 Cardinal Place, Dublin, Ohio 43017

(614) 757-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):


☐			Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐			Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common shares (without par value)	CAH	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).


Emerging growth company			☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. p

Item 5.02: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On August 4, 2026, Cardinal Health, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Anita Zielinski as its Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, effective November 5, 2026. Ms. Zielinski will succeed Mary Scherer, who will continue to serve as Chief Accounting Officer through November 5, 2026. Ms. Zielinski will join Cardinal as Senior Vice President Finance, effective September 16.

Ms. Zielinski, 52, has served as interim Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller of Baxter International, Inc. (“Baxter”) since March 16, 2026. Ms. Zielinski joined Baxter in February 2025 as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller. Prior to joining Baxter, Ms. Zielinski worked for Sysco Corporation (“Sysco”) for seven years, including, beginning in September 2022, as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, US Foodservice Operations, the largest North American foodservice distribution business, and prior to that, beginning in April 2017, as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Before joining Sysco, Ms. Zielinski spent more than twenty years as a member of Ernst & Young LLP’s assurance practice, including as a Partner beginning in 2013.

Ms. Zielinski does not have any family relationships with any of the Company’s directors or executive officers, there are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Zielinski and any other persons pursuant to which she was selected for this role, and there are no transactions required to be reported by the Company under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K for Ms. Zielinski.

Ms. Zielinski will be paid (i) an annual base salary, (ii) an annual cash bonus under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan, and (iii) annual equity-based awards pursuant to the Company’s long-term incentive program and will be eligible to participate in the Company’s other benefit plans. In addition, primarily to address compensation forfeited at her former employer, Ms. Zielinski will receive (i) a cash sign on bonus of $750,000, and (ii) an initial grant of time-vesting restricted share units with a grant date value of $1,000,000 that vest ratably over three years.

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Cardinal Health, Inc.

(Registrant)

Date:

August 5, 2026

By:

/s/ AARON E. ALT

Aaron E. Alt

Chief Financial Officer

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents