Ali El‑Haj named Rogers (NYSE: ROG) CEO with $5M equity package
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Rogers Corporation has appointed Ali El‑Haj as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, effective immediately, following an extensive CEO search. He had served as Interim CEO since July 2025 and previously consulted for the company.
Under his offer letter, El‑Haj will receive a $750,000 annual base salary and a target annual incentive equal to 100% of base salary for 2026. He is also receiving $5,000,000 in long‑term equity, split between $3,200,000 in time‑based restricted stock units vesting 44% on each of the first two anniversaries of May 28, 2026 and 12% on the third, and $1,800,000 in performance‑based restricted stock units.
El‑Haj is a veteran automotive and manufacturing executive, having led Techniplas and CAP‑CON Automotive and held senior roles at Casco Products and ARC Automotive. He will continue to serve as the company’s principal executive officer and participate in the Rogers Corporation Executive Severance Plan.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Rogers names its interim leader as permanent CEO with a sizable equity package.
Rogers Corporation has converted interim CEO Ali El‑Haj into its permanent President, CEO and director after a board‑run search. This formalizes leadership continuity rather than introducing an unknown external hire, which can limit disruption.
The compensation mix, with $5,000,000 in long‑term equity including performance‑based restricted stock units, ties a large portion of his upside to execution. The press release highlights his operational background in automotive and manufacturing, aligning with Rogers’ end‑markets, but actual business impact will depend on future operating results disclosed in periodic reports.
8-K Event Classification
3 items: 5.02, 8.01, 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 8.01
Other Events
Other
Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
CEO base salary: $750,000 per year
Target annual incentive: 100% of base salary
Total long-term equity grant: $5,000,000
+4 more
7 metrics
CEO base salary
$750,000 per year
Annual base salary for Ali El‑Haj as CEO in 2026
Target annual incentive
100% of base salary
Target bonus under 2026 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan
Total long-term equity grant
$5,000,000
Initial CEO long‑term incentive equity award
Time-based RSUs
$3,200,000
Portion of equity in time‑based restricted stock units
Performance-based RSUs
$1,800,000
Portion of equity in performance‑based restricted stock units
RSU vesting schedule
44%, 44%, 12%
Time‑based RSUs vest on first two anniversaries of May 28, 2026 and third
Interim CEO tenure
July 12, 2025 to May 18, 2026
Period Ali El‑Haj served as Interim CEO
Key Terms
Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, time-based restricted stock units, performance-based restricted stock units, Executive Severance Plan, +1 more
5 terms
Annual Incentive Compensation Plan financial
"a target annual incentive equal to 100% of base salary under the Company’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan"
time-based restricted stock units financial
"$3,200,000 in time-based restricted stock units, vesting 44% on the first two anniversaries"
Time-based restricted stock units are a form of employee compensation where individuals are granted company shares that are earned over a set period, often as a reward for staying with the company. These shares typically become fully owned and transferable only after passing specific time milestones, encouraging long-term commitment. For investors, they highlight a company's focus on employee retention and can influence future stock supply and company stability.
performance-based restricted stock units financial
"and $1,800,000 in performance-based restricted stock units), with terms that are otherwise generally consistent"
Performance-based restricted stock units are a type of employee equity award that converts into company shares only if predefined financial or operational targets are met over a set period. Think of it like a bonus check that becomes stock only when specific goals are hit; it ties pay to results, aligning managers’ incentives with shareholders. Investors care because these awards affect future share count, executive incentives, and signal how management’s success will be measured and rewarded.
Executive Severance Plan financial
"He will also be eligible to participate in the Rogers Corporation Executive Severance Plan."
forward-looking statements regulatory
"Statements included in this release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements."
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.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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 19, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(480 ) 917-6000
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| Written communication 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 communication pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | |||||||||
par value $1.00 per share | |||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
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.
Appointment of President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
On May 19, 2026, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Rogers Corporation (the “Company”) appointed Ali El-Haj, currently the Company’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, to the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board, effective immediately. The appointment of Mr. El-Haj follows the completion of an extensive executive search of potential chief executive officer candidates conducted by the Board.
Mr. El-Haj will continue to serve as “principal executive officer” of the Company for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Mr. El-Haj and the Company have entered into an offer letter in connection with his appointment, which provides for an annual base salary of $750,000 and a target annual incentive equal to 100% of base salary under the Company’s Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (“AICP”) for calendar year 2026. In addition, Mr. El-Haj will receive a long-term incentive equity grant with a value of $5,000,000 ($3,200,000 in time-based restricted stock units, vesting 44% on the first two anniversaries of May 28, 2026 and 12% on the third anniversary, and $1,800,000 in performance-based restricted stock units), with terms that are otherwise generally consistent with the Company’s standard long-term incentive grants. He will also be eligible to participate in the Rogers Corporation Executive Severance Plan. The foregoing description of the offer letter is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the offer letter, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Set forth below is the biographical information of Mr. El-Haj, as required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K:
From July 12, 2025 to May 18, 2026, Mr. El-Haj served as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. From March 2025 through July 11, 2025, Mr. El-Haj served as an independent management consultant for the Company. From June 2020 to December 2024, Mr. El-Haj served as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the board of directors of Techniplas, a company that specializes in providing advanced manufacturing solutions, primarily focusing on the automotive industry. Before that, Mr. El-Haj held many executive and other leadership positions, including as the President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Cap-Con Automotive (2007 – 2017), and as President of Casco Products (2001 - 2007).
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. El-Haj and any other person pursuant to which he was appointed as an executive officer or director and Mr. El-Haj does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any “related party” transaction required to be separately disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. El-Haj does not have any family relationships with any of the Company’s directors or executive officers. Reference is made to the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2026, for the information required by Items 401(b), (d), (e), and Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K regarding Mr. El-Haj.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On May 19, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. El-Haj to the positions of President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 10.1* | Offer letter, dated May 19, 2026, by and between Rogers Corporation and Ali El-Haj. | |||||||
| 99.1 | Press release issued by Rogers Corporation on May 19, 2026. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
*Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. | ||||||||
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.
ROGERS CORPORATION | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Registrant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date: May 19, 2026 | By: | /s/ Jessica A. Morton | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jessica A. Morton | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
Rogers Corporation Appoints Ali El-Haj Chief Executive Officer
Chandler, Arizona – May 19, 2026 — Rogers Corporation (NYSE: ROG) (“Rogers”) announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Ali El-Haj as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, effective today.
“As interim CEO, Ali has driven improved execution and brought greater focus to innovation priorities, positioning Rogers for sustained performance,” said Armand Lauzon, Chair of the Board of Rogers. “He will continue to lead the Company as it enters its next phase of growth and value creation.
“Ali is an accomplished leader with deep operational expertise in our core businesses and extensive global experience across key markets. The Board conducted a thorough and deliberate process, and we are confident that Ali brings both the strong leadership capabilities and strategic perspective needed to further optimize our existing business and advance the critical priorities that can drive meaningful growth. We also look forward to his contributions as a member of the Board, where he will bring valuable insight into our long-term strategic direction. He will partner effectively with our Executive Leadership Team and employees worldwide to deliver value for our shareholders and other stakeholders.”
Mr. El-Haj added, “I am honored to be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Rogers at this critical time. The Company has a strong foundation, including differentiated technologies, leading positions in its markets, and a talented global team. I look forward to working closely with the team to build on these strengths, enhance execution, and unlock opportunities for significant growth.”
About Ali El-Haj
Mr. El-Haj is a seasoned CEO with over 30 years of international experience leading growth, turnarounds, and strategic expansion in the automotive and manufacturing industries. Most recently, he guided Techniplas, a Tier 1 supplier, through multiple acquisitions, complex COVID-19 supply chain challenges, and securing several contracts with European OEMs. Prior to that, Mr. El-Haj served as President and CEO of CAP-CON Automotive Technologies, where he expanded Casco Products into a global leader in sensor and connectivity systems, and simultaneously led ARC Automotive through a major turnaround. Mr. El-Haj holds a master’s degree in physics/quantum mechanics from the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Bridgeport.
About Rogers Corporation
Rogers Corporation (NYSE:ROG) is a global leader in engineered materials to power, protect and connect our world. Rogers delivers innovative solutions to help our customers solve their toughest material challenges. Rogers’ advanced electronic and elastomeric materials are used in applications for EV/HEV, automotive safety and radar systems, mobile devices, renewable energy, wireless infrastructure, energy-efficient motor drives, industrial equipment and more. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Rogers operates manufacturing facilities in the United
Exhibit 99.1
States, Asia and Europe, with sales offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.rogerscorp.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements included in this release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words or phrases such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “plan,” “expect,” “should,” “would” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, and are based on Rogers’ current beliefs and expectations. This release contains forward-looking statements regarding our plans, objectives, outlook, goals, strategies, future events, future net sales or performance, capital expenditures, future restructuring, plans or intentions relating to expansions, business trends and other information that is not historical information. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. For additional information about the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our business, please see our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Rogers Corporation assumes no responsibility to update any forward-looking statements contained herein except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
Steve Haymore
Senior Director, Investor Relations
Phone: 480.917.6026
Email: stephen.haymore@rogerscorporation.com
FAQ
What did Rogers Corporation (ROG) announce about its leadership?
Rogers Corporation appointed Ali El‑Haj as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board, effective immediately. He had been serving as Interim CEO since July 2025 and now becomes the company’s permanent principal executive officer.
What is Ali El-Haj’s compensation as Rogers (ROG) CEO?
Ali El‑Haj will receive a $750,000 annual base salary and a target annual incentive equal to 100% of base salary for 2026. He is also granted $5,000,000 in long‑term equity awards, combining time‑based and performance‑based restricted stock units.
How is Ali El-Haj’s long-term equity at Rogers (ROG) structured?
His $5,000,000 long‑term equity grant consists of $3,200,000 in time‑based restricted stock units and $1,800,000 in performance‑based restricted stock units. The time‑based units vest 44% on each of the first two anniversaries of May 28, 2026 and 12% on the third.
What is Ali El-Haj’s background before becoming Rogers (ROG) CEO?
Ali El‑Haj previously served as CEO and director of Techniplas from 2020 to 2024 and earlier led CAP‑CON Automotive Technologies and Casco Products. He has more than 30 years’ experience in automotive and manufacturing, including turnaround and growth roles.
What else did Rogers (ROG) file with the CEO appointment 8-K?
Rogers filed an offer letter with Ali El‑Haj as Exhibit 10.1 and a press release announcing his appointment as Exhibit 99.1. The filing also notes he will be eligible to participate in the Rogers Corporation Executive Severance Plan.