Matthews International (NASDAQ: MATW) outlines CEO transition and succession
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Matthews International Corporation announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph C. Bartolacci has decided to retire from his roles and resign from the Board. He will remain President, CEO and a director until a successor is duly appointed and begins service, and will support the transition at least through January 1, 2027. The Board has launched a succession process and affirmed there is no dispute or disagreement underlying his decision.
Bartolacci will receive his prorated annual salary and a prorated FY 2027 bonus at target level, and will continue to participate in employee benefit plans through the Retirement Date. He joined in 1997, became CEO in 2006, oversaw more than 60 acquisitions, and guided revenue from about $700 million to a business approaching $2 billion. The company operates through Industrial Technologies and Memorialization segments, with about 4,300 employees across 15 countries on four continents.
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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, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Tenure as CEO: 20 years
Revenue at start of tenure: $700 million
Current revenue scale: $2 billion
+4 more
7 metrics
Tenure as CEO
20 years
Bartolacci has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2006
Revenue at start of tenure
$700 million
Annual revenue around the time Bartolacci became CEO
Current revenue scale
$2 billion
Business approaching $2 billion in annual revenue during his tenure
Acquisitions completed
more than 60
Number of acquisitions completed under Bartolacci’s leadership
Employees
4,300
Number of employees across the company’s operations
Countries of operation
15
Company operates in 15 countries on four continents
Retirement support period
through January 1, 2027
Bartolacci will support the CEO transition at least through this date
Key Terms
Regulation FD, forward-looking statements, Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, memorialization, +2 more
6 terms
Regulation FD regulatory
"Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure on August 4, 2026"
Regulation FD is a rule that prevents company insiders, like executives, from sharing important information with some people before others get it. It matters because it helps ensure all investors have equal access to key news, making the stock market fairer and reducing chances of insider trading.
forward-looking statements regulatory
"Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are included"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regulatory
"included pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995"
memorialization financial
"Matthews evolved from a memorialization-focused company into a diversified global enterprise"
Industrial Technologies financial
"operates through two core global businesses – Industrial Technologies and Memorialization"
Propelis financial
"significant investment in Propelis, a brand solutions business formed through the merger"
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What leadership change did Matthews International (MATW) disclose?
Matthews International disclosed that President and CEO Joseph C. Bartolacci will retire and resign from the Board after a successor is appointed, while continuing to serve and support the transition at least through January 1, 2027.
How long has MATW CEO Joseph Bartolacci served the company?
Joseph C. Bartolacci has served Matthews International for nearly three decades, including 20 years as CEO. He joined as General Counsel in 1997 and was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 2006.
What transition and compensation arrangements apply to MATW’s CEO retirement?
Bartolacci will continue in his current roles through the Retirement Date, receiving prorated annual salary, a prorated FY 2027 bonus at target level, and ongoing participation in employee benefit plans through that date.
How has Matthews International’s revenue changed under its retiring CEO?
During Bartolacci’s tenure as CEO, Matthews International’s annual revenue expanded from approximately $700 million to a business approaching $2 billion, alongside more than 60 acquisitions and significant investment in technology and innovation.
What is MATW’s plan for CEO succession following Bartolacci’s retirement?
The Board has initiated a succession process to select a new President and Chief Executive Officer and stated it aims for a seamless leadership transition, with further details to be provided at a later time.
What are Matthews International’s main business segments and scale?
Matthews International operates through Industrial Technologies and Memorialization segments and holds a significant investment in Propelis. It has over 4,300 employees in 15 countries across four continents.
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): July 29, 2026
____________________________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________________________________________________
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (Commission | (I.R.S. Employer | ||||||
| Incorporation or organization) | File Number) | Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(412 ) 442-8200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, 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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||||||||||||||
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | 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 July 29, 2026, Joseph C. Bartolacci, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, informed Matthews International Corporation (“Matthews” or the “Company”) of his decision to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer and resign as a director of the Company. The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) extends its gratitude to Mr. Bartolacci for his many years of service to Matthews. The Board has initiated a succession process to select a successor to Mr. Bartolacci. The Company intends for Mr. Bartolacci to continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Matthews and remain a member of the Board until his successor is duly appointed and commences service to the Company (the “Retirement Date”). Mr. Bartolacci will continue to support the transition of the new President and Chief Executive Officer at least through January 1, 2027.
Mr. Bartolacci and the Company have agreed that Mr. Bartolacci will continue to serve in his current capacity through the Retirement Date (the “Employment Term”). In addition, Mr. Bartolacci will remain the Company’s designee to the Board of Directors of Peninsula Parent LLC, d.b.a. Propelis Group. Mr. Bartolacci will be entitled to his prorated annual salary in effect as of the date hereof, subject to the Company’s regular payroll processes and withholding, through January 1, 2027. Subject to Mr. Bartolacci’s continued services through the Retirement Date, Mr. Bartolacci will also be paid a prorated FY 2027 bonus at target level, subject to the Company’s regular payroll processes and withholding, and Mr. Bartolacci will be eligible to continue participating in the Company’s employee benefit plans, consistent with past practice, through the Retirement Date.
Mr. Bartolacci’s decision to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer and resign from the Board is not the result of any dispute or disagreement with the Company.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
On August 4, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the retirement of Mr. Bartolacci from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Matthews. A copy of the press release with respect to Mr. Bartolacci’s retirement is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
The information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any other filing of Matthews under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Forward-looking Information
Any forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K are included pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies of Matthews regarding the future, and may be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “seeks,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “objective,” “targets,” “potential,” “outlook,” “may,” “will,” “could” or the negative of these terms, other comparable terminology and variations thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from management's expectations, and no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include risks to our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the joint venture transaction with Peninsula Parent LLC, d.b.a. Propelis Group ("Propelis"), changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in interest rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, including changes in costs due to adjustments to tariffs or supply chain disruptions, any impairment of goodwill or intangible assets, environmental liability and limitations on the Company’s operations due to environmental laws and regulations, disruptions to certain services, such as telecommunications, network server maintenance, cloud computing or transaction processing services, provided to the Company by third-parties, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, or other factors such as labor shortages or labor cost increases, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures, ability to achieve cost-reduction objectives, unknown risks in connection with the Company's acquisitions, divestitures, and business combinations, cybersecurity concerns and costs arising with management of cybersecurity threats, effectiveness of the Company's internal controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company's control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, or other disruptions to our industries, customers, or supply chains, the impact of global conflicts, such as the current war between Russia and Ukraine and hostilities in the Middle East, and conflicts and related sanctions or trade restrictions
involving Venezuela, the Company's plans and expectations with respect to its exploration, and contemplated execution, of various strategies with respect to its portfolio of businesses, the Company's plans and expectations with respect to its Board of Directors, and other factors described the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and other periodic filings with the SEC. In addition, although the Company does not currently have any customers that would be considered individually significant to consolidated sales, changes in the distribution of the Company's products or the potential loss of one or more of the Company's larger customers are also considered risk factors. Matthews cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not all inclusive. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of the date of this report, even if subsequently made available by Matthews on its website or otherwise. Matthews does not undertake to update any forward looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of Matthews to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report unless required by law.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
99.1 | Press Release, dated August 4, 2026 issued by Matthews International Corporation. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
SIGNATURE
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.
| MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION | |||||||||||
| (Registrant) | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Joseph C. Bartolacci | ||||||||||
| Joseph C. Bartolacci | |||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||
Date: August 4, 2026
 | NEWS RELEASE | ||||
Matthews International Corporation
Corporate Office
Two NorthShore Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15212-5851
Phone: (412) 442-8200
| August 4, 2026 | Contact: | Daniel E. Stopar | |||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |||||||||||
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
OF PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JOSEPH C. BARTOLACCI
PITTSBURGH, PA, AUGUST 4, 2026 - Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: MATW) today announced that Joseph C. Bartolacci has informed the Board of Directors of his decision to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer following nearly three decades of service to the Company, including 20 years as CEO. The Board of Directors has initiated a succession process to ensure a seamless leadership transition and will provide additional details at the appropriate time.
Bartolacci originally joined Matthews as the Company’s General Counsel in 1997 and held various leadership positions at the Company, ultimately being appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 2006. During his tenure, Matthews evolved from a memorialization-focused company into a diversified global enterprise serving customers across memorialization, industrial technologies, and brand solutions markets. Under his leadership, the Company expanded its global footprint, completed more than 60 acquisitions, invested significantly in technology and innovation, and strengthened its operational capabilities. During this period, Matthews grew from approximately $700 million in annual revenue to a business approaching $2 billion in revenue while enhancing its market positions across its core businesses.
Michael Nauman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, expressed appreciation for Bartolacci's leadership and contributions to the Company by commenting on Bartolacci’s legacy: “I cannot thank Joe enough for his service to Matthews and also to me as I transitioned into the Chairman's role at the Company. His 29 years at Matthews and 20 years as CEO have been marked by growth and his personal passion and strong integrity have helped Matthews through many challenging times to become a much better organization. Joe will be missed but he has left us in a strong position and for that I am grateful.”
Reflecting on his retirement, Bartolacci said: "It has been a privilege to serve Matthews for nearly three decades and to work alongside the talented team members who have made our growth and commercial success possible. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that the Company is well-positioned to continue executing its strategy and creating value for all stakeholders."
The Board and management team remain committed to executing the Company's strategic priorities and ensuring a smooth transition of leadership. In the interim, Mr. Bartolacci will continue to support the transition of the new President and Chief Executive Officer at least through January 1, 2027.
About Matthews International Corporation
Matthews International Corporation operates through two core global businesses – Industrial Technologies and Memorialization. Both are focused on driving operational efficiency and long-term growth through continuous innovation and strategic expansion. The Industrial Technologies segment evolved from our original marking business, which today is a leading global innovator committed to empowering visionaries to transform industries through the application of precision technologies and intelligent processes. The Memorialization segment is a leading provider of memorialization products, including memorials, caskets and cremation and incineration equipment, primarily to cemetery and funeral home customers that help families move from grief to remembrance. In addition, the Company also has a significant investment in Propelis, a brand solutions business formed through the merger of SGK and SGS & Co. Propelis delivers integrated solutions including brand creative, packaging, print solutions, branded environments, and content production. Matthews International has over 4,300 employees in 15 countries on four continents that are committed to delivering the highest quality products and services.
Forward-looking Information
Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are included pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies of the Company regarding the future, and may be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “seeks,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “objective,” “targets,” “potential,” “outlook,” “may,” “will,” “could” or the negative of these terms, other comparable terminology and variations thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from management’s expectations, and no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include risks to our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the joint venture transaction with Peninsula Parent LLC, d.b.a. Propelis Group (“Propelis”), changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in interest rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, including changes in costs due to adjustments to tariffs or supply chain disruptions, any impairment of goodwill or intangible assets, environmental liability and limitations on the Company’s operations due to environmental laws and regulations, disruptions to certain services, such as telecommunications, network server maintenance, cloud computing or transaction processing services, provided to the Company by third-parties, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, or other factors such as labor shortages or labor cost increases, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures, ability to achieve cost-reduction objectives, unknown risks in connection with the Company's acquisitions, divestitures, and business combinations, cybersecurity concerns and costs arising with management of cybersecurity threats, effectiveness of the Company's internal controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company's control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, or other disruptions to our industries, customers, or supply chains, the impact of global conflicts, such as the current war between Russia and Ukraine and hostilities in the Middle East, and conflicts and related sanctions or trade restrictions involving Venezuela, the Company's plans and expectations with respect to its exploration, and contemplated execution, of various strategies with respect to its portfolio of businesses, the Company's plans and expectations with respect to its Board of Directors, and other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.