Carlsmed names Jeff Bertolini COO, grants options
Carlsmed promotes Jeff Bertolini to Chief Operating Officer with increased compensation, severance protections, and a 50,000-option equity award.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Carlsmed, Inc. (CARL) announced that its Board of Directors appointed Jeffrey (Jeff) Bertolini as Chief Operating Officer, effective September 8, 2026. He has held senior operations roles at Carlsmed since 2024 and previously at SI-BONE, NuVasive, and US Surgical.
Bertolini’s employment agreement includes a base salary that increases to $475,000 with a 60% target annual cash incentive opportunity. If his employment is terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason outside of a defined corporate-transaction window, he is eligible for 12 months of base-salary continuation, potential annual incentive payments, and up to 12 months of COBRA reimbursements. On September 8, 2026, he was also granted 50,000 stock options to purchase Carlsmed common stock.
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Insights
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8-K Event Classification
3 items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
3 items
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.
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
COO effective date: September 8, 2026
Current age: 60 years
Initial annual base salary under Employment Agreement: $375,000
+5 more
8 metrics
COO effective date
September 8, 2026
Effective date of Jeff Bertolini’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer
Current age
60 years
Age of Jeff Bertolini at the time of appointment
Initial annual base salary under Employment Agreement
$375,000
Initial base salary effective July 10, 2025
Base salary after March 9, 2026 increase
$440,000
Salary level set on March 9, 2026 before COO promotion
COO base salary
$475,000
Annual base salary effective September 8, 2026 upon appointment as COO
Target incentive opportunity (pre-COO)
40% of base salary
Annual cash incentive target under Employment Agreement before COO appointment
Target incentive opportunity (COO)
60% of base salary
Annual cash incentive target after appointment as COO
Stock options granted
50,000 options
Stock options to purchase Carlsmed common stock granted on September 8, 2026
Key Terms
COBRA reimbursements, good reason, corporate transaction, indemnification agreement, +1 more
5 terms
COBRA reimbursements financial
"and (iv) COBRA reimbursements for up to 12 months"
good reason regulatory
"or due to his resignation for “good reason” outside the period"
corporate transaction financial
"ending 12 months after the consummation of a “corporate transaction,”"
indemnification agreement regulatory
"have entered into an indemnification agreement substantially similar to the"
An indemnification agreement is a contract in which one party promises to cover losses, costs, or legal claims that another party might face, acting like a tailored safety net or private insurance policy. For investors, it matters because such agreements shift potential financial risk away from a company or its officers and onto the indemnifier, which can affect a company’s future liabilities, cash flow and how risky the investment appears during deal-making or litigation.
Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory
"Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure. On September 8, 2026, the Company issued"
Regulation FD disclosure requires public companies to share important, market-moving information with everyone at the same time instead of tipping off analysts or large investors first. Think of it as making sure all players on a field hear the same announcement simultaneously; that fairness helps investors trust that stock prices reflect the same information and reduces the risk of sudden, unfair trading advantages or regulatory penalties for selective leaks.
FAQ
What executive leadership change did CARLSMED, INC. (CARL) announce?
Carlsmed appointed Jeffrey (Jeff) Bertolini as Chief Operating Officer, effective September 8, 2026. He previously served as Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence and Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies at the company.
What is Jeff Bertolini’s new compensation package at CARL?
As Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Bertolini will receive a base salary of $475,000 per year and will be eligible for an annual cash incentive with a target opportunity of 60% of his base salary, under his existing employment agreement.
What equity award did Carlsmed (CARL) grant to the new COO?
On September 8, 2026, Carlsmed granted Jeff Bertolini 50,000 stock options to purchase shares of the company’s common stock in connection with his appointment as Chief Operating Officer.
What severance protections does Jeff Bertolini have under his Carlsmed employment agreement?
If terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason outside a specified corporate-transaction window, Bertolini may receive 12 months of base salary, any earned but unpaid annual incentive, a pro-rated incentive for the year of termination, and up to 12 months of COBRA reimbursements.
What prior roles did Jeff Bertolini hold before becoming COO at Carlsmed (CARL)?
At Carlsmed, he served as Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence and previously as Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies. Before Carlsmed, he held senior operations and technology roles at SI-BONE, Inc., NuVasive, Inc., and US Surgical.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
