Campbell's appoints new Chief Accounting Officer; equity and cash compensation disclosed
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
The Campbell's Company announced an internal leadership transition in its accounting function: Senior Vice President & Controller Stanley Polomski will move to Senior Vice President, Business Process Optimization effective September 22, 2025, and Kelly L. Palumbo will become Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer on the same date. Ms. Palumbo, age 51, joins from Charles River Laboratories after two decades at Johnson & Johnson and will receive a $410,000 base salary, a 55% target annual bonus (pro rata) for fiscal 2026, a 110% target long-term incentive for fiscal 2026, a one-time $200,000 time-vesting RSU grant, and a $300,000 cash payment for forfeited prior bonus and benefits, plus standard benefits and a $2,500 quarterly Personal Choice benefit.
Positive
- Experienced hire with prior controller and senior finance roles at Charles River Laboratories and Johnson & Johnson.
- Clear succession plan with effective date and internal transition for outgoing controller.
- Equity and incentive structure (110% LTIP target and time-lapse RSUs) aligns long-term interests with shareholders.
Negative
- One-time cash payment of $300,000 and additional compensation increase near-term cash costs.
- Sign-on and make-whole elements may modestly increase executive compensation expense in fiscal 2026.
Insights
TL;DR Experienced external hire fills controller role with compensation aligning to market for a sizable C-suite finance position.
The appointment replaces an internal controller role with a seasoned finance executive from Charles River and long tenure at Johnson & Johnson, which suggests continuity and depth in financial leadership. Compensation combines base salary, incentive targets (55% annual, 110% long-term), an equity grant that vests over three years, and a one-time cash payment to offset forfeited compensation—a typical package to secure a senior accounting leader. The disclosure contains no operational or earnings metrics, so investor impact is limited to governance and compensation expectations.
TL;DR Succession implemented with standard disclosure; package features retention and make-whole components common for external hires.
The company documents succession timing and conflicts-of-interest checks, stating no family relationships or reportable related-party transactions. The make-whole cash payment and time-lapse RSUs are customary to mitigate forfeited benefits and to align incentives. Disclosure appears complete for an Item 5.02 change in accounting personnel, providing necessary compensation detail and certifications about related-party interests. No red flags in governance practices are evident from the provided text.
