Charter (NASDAQ: CHTR) renews GC Jamal Haughton contract through 2028
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Charter Communications approved a new employment agreement for Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary Jamal Haughton, effective May 15, 2026 and running through May 15, 2028. He will continue in his current role.
The agreement provides an annual base salary of $825,000, a target annual cash bonus equal to 160% of base salary, and, starting in 2027, annual equity awards with a grant date fair value of at least $4,000,000 in options and restricted stock units. On May 15, 2026, he also received a one-time top up equity award valued at $656,250 that cliff vests on the third anniversary of grant, subject to continued employment.
If his employment is terminated involuntarily without cause, for good reason, or after a Company non-renewal, he is eligible for cash severance equal to 2.0× the sum of base salary and target bonus, a prorated bonus based on actual performance, COBRA cost reimbursement for 24 months, and up to 12 months of executive outplacement services. He is subject to confidentiality, noncompetition covenants for two years post-termination, and nonsolicitation covenants for one year.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 5.02, 9.01
2 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 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Base salary: $825,000 per year
Target bonus: 160% of base salary
Annual equity awards: At least $4,000,000
+5 more
8 metrics
Base salary
$825,000 per year
Annual base salary under employment agreement
Target bonus
160% of base salary
Target annual cash bonus opportunity
Annual equity awards
At least $4,000,000
Grant date fair value starting in 2027
Top up equity award
$656,250
Granted May 15, 2026; 3-year cliff vesting
Severance multiple
2.0× salary + target bonus
Cash severance formula upon qualifying termination
COBRA coverage period
24 months
COBRA cost reimbursement after qualifying termination
Noncompetition duration
Two years
Post-termination noncompete covenant
Nonsolicitation duration
One year
Post-termination nonsolicitation of customers and employees
Key Terms
Employment Agreement, restricted stock units, COBRA coverage, noncompetition, +1 more
5 terms
Employment Agreement financial
"entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Jamal Haughton"
restricted stock units financial
"equity awards with a grant date fair value of at least $4,000,000, with such awards granted in a mix of options and restricted stock units"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
COBRA coverage financial
"a cash payment equal to the cost of COBRA coverage for 24 months following termination"
noncompetition financial
"covenants (a) concerning nondisclosure of confidential information ... (b) concerning noncompetition for two years following termination"
nonsolicitation financial
"covenants ... (c) concerning nonsolicitation of customers and employees of the Company for one year following termination"
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): May 15, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
| (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |||||||
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)
(203 905-7801
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
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. ☐
ITEM 5.02 DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.
On May 15, 2026, Charter Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Jamal Haughton, the Company’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary.
The Employment Agreement, which is effective as of May 15, 2026, has a term ending May 15, 2028 (or upon an earlier termination of employment) and provides that Mr. Haughton will continue to serve as Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary. The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Haughton will receive an annual base salary of at least $825,000 and a target annual cash bonus opportunity of 160% of his annual base salary. Commencing in 2027 and during the term, Mr. Haughton will be granted equity awards with a grant date fair value of at least $4,000,000, with such awards granted in a mix of options and restricted stock units. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, on May 15, 2026, Mr. Haughton was granted a top up award with a grant date fair value of $656,250, consisting of a mix of options and restricted stock units, which award will cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to Mr. Haughton’s continued employment with the Company through such date.
Mr. Haughton will also continue to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans and receive perquisites as generally provided to other senior executives of the Company. In addition, consistent with Mr. Haughton’s prior employment agreement, the Company will continue to reimburse Mr. Haughton for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his duties.
If the employment of Mr. Haughton is terminated involuntarily by the Company without cause, by Mr. Haughton for good reason or upon the Company’s non-renewal of the term, he would be entitled to (a) a cash severance payment equal to the product of 2.0 multiplied by the sum of his annual base salary and target annual bonus opportunity for the year in which the termination occurs, (b) a prorated annual cash bonus for the year in which the termination occurs based on actual performance, (c) a cash payment equal to the cost of COBRA coverage for 24 months following termination, and (d) up to 12 months of executive-level outplacement services.
The termination benefits described above are subject to Mr. Haughton’s execution of a release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates. In addition, Mr. Haughton has agreed to comply with covenants (a) concerning nondisclosure of confidential information, assignment of intellectual property and nondisparagement of the Company, (b) concerning noncompetition for two years following termination, and (c) concerning nonsolicitation of customers and employees of the Company for one year following termination.
The foregoing summary of the Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text thereof, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
| Exhibit | Description | ||||||||||
| 10.1* | Employment Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2026, between Charter Communications, Inc. and Jamal Haughton. | ||||||||||
| 104 | The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL | ||||||||||
* Filed herewith
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each of Charter Communications, Inc., CCO Holdings, LLC and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | |||||||||||
| Registrant | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Kevin D. Howard | ||||||||||
| Kevin D. Howard | |||||||||||
| Date: May 19, 2026 | Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller | ||||||||||
| CCO Holdings, LLC | |||||||||||
| Registrant | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Kevin D. Howard | ||||||||||
| Kevin D. Howard | |||||||||||
| Date: May 19, 2026 | Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller | ||||||||||
| CCO Holdings Capital Corp. | |||||||||||
| Registrant | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Kevin D. Howard | ||||||||||
| Kevin D. Howard | |||||||||||
| Date: May 19, 2026 | Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller | ||||||||||
FAQ
What did Charter Communications (CHTR) announce about Jamal Haughton?
Charter Communications entered into a new employment agreement with Jamal Haughton as Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, effective May 15, 2026 through May 15, 2028. He will continue in the same senior legal and corporate governance role.
What is Jamal Haughton’s new base salary and bonus at Charter (CHTR)?
Under the new agreement, Jamal Haughton receives an annual base salary of $825,000 and a target annual cash bonus opportunity equal to 160% of that base salary. The bonus is performance-based and calculated each year under the company’s incentive programs.
What equity compensation will Jamal Haughton receive under the new Charter (CHTR) contract?
Beginning in 2027 and during the agreement term, Jamal Haughton will receive annual equity awards with a grant date fair value of at least $4,000,000 in a mix of stock options and restricted stock units, aligning a significant portion of his pay with Charter’s long-term equity performance.
What is the one-time top up equity award granted to Jamal Haughton?
On May 15, 2026, Jamal Haughton was granted a top up equity award with a grant date fair value of $656,250, consisting of stock options and restricted stock units. This award cliff vests on the third anniversary of the grant, assuming he remains employed through that date.
What severance could Jamal Haughton receive if his employment at Charter ends?
If Jamal Haughton is terminated without cause, resigns for good reason, or the company does not renew the term, he may receive cash severance equal to 2.0 times base salary plus target bonus, a prorated bonus, 24 months of COBRA cost reimbursement, and up to 12 months of outplacement.
What noncompete and nonsolicitation restrictions apply to Jamal Haughton at Charter?
Jamal Haughton agreed to noncompetition covenants lasting two years following termination of employment and nonsolicitation covenants covering customers and employees for one year. He also must comply with confidentiality, intellectual property assignment and nondisparagement obligations toward Charter Communications.