Mesa Laboratories (NASDAQ: MLAB) sets CEO Owens transition and board exit

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Mesa Laboratories detailed the transition of President and CEO Gary Owens, whose departure was previously announced and will be effective on or about April 13, 2026. Under a new Retention and Transition Agreement dated March 20, 2026, he will continue in a non-executive role until June 22, 2026 to support an orderly handover.

At his June 22, 2026 separation, Mr. Owens will receive severance pay and benefits consistent with a “without cause” termination and keep a pro-rated portion of his June 15, 2025 performance stock unit award, vesting at the lower of target or actual performance. He must sign a release of claims to receive these benefits. He also resigned from the board as of March 20, 2026, and the company states his resignation was not due to any disagreement over operations, policies, or practices.

Insights

Corporate governance analyst

Orderly CEO and board transition with standard severance terms.

The company confirms Gary Owens’ planned departure as President and CEO and outlines a defined transition through June 22, 2026. He shifts to a non-executive role, which helps preserve continuity while the board manages leadership succession.

The severance mirrors a “without cause” termination and includes continued pay, benefits, and a pro-rated performance stock unit award tied to the lower of target or actual performance. This structure aligns compensation with company results and is conditioned on a release of claims, which is typical.

Owens also resigns from the board effective March 20, 2026, with the company stating there is no disagreement on operations, policies, or practices. Future disclosures in regular filings may provide more detail on the incoming leadership structure and any strategic shifts following the transition period.

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.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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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): March 20, 2026

MESA LABORATORIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Colorado
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation) 0-11740 (Commission File Number) 84-0872291
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

12100 WEST SIXTH AVENUE, LAKEWOOD, Colorado
(Address of principal executive offices) 80228
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 303-987-8000

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 (see General Instruction 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 under Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value		MLAB		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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 March 9, 2026, Mesa Laboratories, Inc. (“Mesa” or the “Company”) announced the departure of Gary Owens as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective on or about April 13, 2026. On March 20, 2026, Mr. Owens and the Company entered into a Retention and Transition Agreement (the “Transition Agreement”) pursuant to which he will remain with the Company in a non-executive capacity until June 22, 2026 (the “Separation Date”) to facilitate the transition of his role to his successor. Under the Transition Agreement, upon termination on the Separation Date, Mr. Owens will be entitled to receive the severance pay and benefits associated with a “without cause” termination based on his termination on the Separation Date and to retain a pro-rated portion of his June 15, 2025 performance stock unit award, which will vest at the lower of target or actual performance at the end of the performance period. As a condition to receiving the severance pay and benefits, Mr. Owens will be required to execute a release of claims in favor of the Company.

In connection with the execution of the Transition Agreement, Mr. Owens also resigned as a member of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), effective as of March 20, 2026. Mr. Owens' resignation from the Board is not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies or practices.

The foregoing description of the Transition Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Transition Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

10.1 Transition Agreement, dated as of March 20, 2026, by and among Mesa Laboratories, Inc. and Gary Owens.

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

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.

DATE: March 23, 2026		Mesa Laboratories, Inc.
		(Registrant)
	BY:	/s/ John Sakys
		John Sakys
		Chief Financial Officer

FAQ

What leadership change did Mesa Laboratories (MLAB) disclose?

Mesa Laboratories disclosed that Gary Owens will depart as President and CEO effective on or about April 13, 2026. He will then serve in a non-executive capacity until June 22, 2026, helping transition responsibilities to his successor under a formal Transition Agreement.

How long will Gary Owens remain at Mesa Laboratories (MLAB) during the transition?

Gary Owens will stay with Mesa Laboratories in a non-executive role until June 22, 2026. This period is intended to facilitate a smooth transition of his President and CEO responsibilities to his successor under the agreed Retention and Transition Agreement.

What severance will Gary Owens receive from Mesa Laboratories (MLAB)?

Upon his June 22, 2026 separation, Gary Owens will receive severance pay and benefits consistent with a “without cause” termination. He will also retain a pro-rated portion of his June 15, 2025 performance stock unit award, subject to vesting based on the lower of target or actual performance.

Did Gary Owens resign from the Mesa Laboratories (MLAB) board of directors?

Yes. In connection with the Transition Agreement, Gary Owens resigned from Mesa Laboratories’ board of directors effective March 20, 2026. The company states his resignation is not due to any disagreement regarding its operations, policies, or practices, indicating an orderly governance transition.

Are there conditions on Gary Owens’ severance from Mesa Laboratories (MLAB)?

Yes. To receive severance pay, benefits, and the pro-rated performance stock unit award, Gary Owens must execute a release of claims in favor of Mesa Laboratories. This type of release is a common condition in executive separation and transition arrangements.

How will Gary Owens’ performance stock units be treated at Mesa Laboratories (MLAB)?

Gary Owens will retain a pro-rated portion of his June 15, 2025 performance stock unit award after separation. These units will vest based on the lower of target or actual performance at the end of the performance period, maintaining a performance-based incentive structure.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents

Agreements & Contracts

• EX-10.1 EXHIBIT 10.1 81.1 KB

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA 3.5 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE 11.2 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE 15.0 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE 11.3 KB