[8-K] Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Reports Material Event

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) announced a key leadership change in an 8-K filed on July 14, 2025. Effective July 28, 2025, Ryan Lada, age 38, will become Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Shashank Patel, who will remain for a transition period until retirement.

Lada brings recent CFO experience from The AZEK Company and prior senior finance roles at Cantel Medical, Medtronic, IDEX, GE Transportation and others. His compensation package includes:

• $525,000 annual base salary
• Target bonus equal to 75 % of salary (prorated for 2025)
• $500,000 deferred stock award vesting one-third annually over three years
• Annual allowances: $14,000 car and up to $15,875 financial planning
• Eligibility for executive severance, stock, health, retirement and other customary benefit plans

The filing contains no earnings data or other operational updates.

Positive

• Experienced incoming CFO with multi-industry finance and M&A background could enhance financial strategy.
• Structured transition period with outgoing CFO lowers operational disruption risk.

Negative

• Executive turnover in a critical role can introduce short-term uncertainty.
• Incremental compensation costs (salary, bonuses, stock, allowances) add to SG&A.

Insights

Financial Analyst

TL;DR: CFO transition adds experienced leader; limited immediate financial impact.

The appointment of Ryan Lada introduces a CFO with diverse industry and M&A background, potentially strengthening WTS’s finance strategy. Compensation is typical for a company of WTS’s size and should not materially pressure expenses. Patel’s overlap mitigates transition risk. Because no guidance or financial metrics changed, short-term valuation impact is limited; investor focus will shift to Lada’s ability to drive capital allocation and margin initiatives.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Leadership change is routine; governance continuity preserved via transition support.

CFO turnover is a reportable event under Item 5.02. The company discloses full compensation details, aligning with transparency best practices. Retention of outgoing CFO for transition reduces execution risk. No unusual severance or change-in-control provisions are noted beyond standard executive plans. Governance impact is neutral, with potential long-term benefit from fresh perspective.

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​​SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20549​

​FORM 8-K​CURRENT REPORTPursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934​Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 14, 2025​

​WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)​

​	​	​	​	​
Delaware	​	001-11499	​	04-2916536
(State or Other Jurisdiction	​	(Commission File Number)	​	(IRS Employer
of Incorporation)	​	​	​	Identification No.)

​815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)​(978) 688-1811(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)​

​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 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:​

​	​​	​
Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share	WTS	New York Stock Exchange

​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 14, 2025, Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of Ryan Lada as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer effective upon the commencement of his employment with the Company on July 28, 2025. ​In connection with Mr. Lada joining the Company, as previously announced, Shashank Patel will step down as Chief Financial Officer effective as of July 28, 2025 and thereafter will provide transition services until his planned retirement from the Company.
​Mr. Lada, age 38, previously served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from January to July 2025, and as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Residential and Commercial Divisions, from July 2022 to January 2025, of The AZEK Company. AZEK is a leading manufacturer of sustainable outdoor living products. Mr. Lada departed AZEK on July 11, 2025 following its acquisition by James Hardie Industries plc. Mr. Lada also served as Vice President of Finance at Tank Holding Corp., a leading manufacturer of steel bulk storage and material handling products, from September 2021 to June 2022. Mr. Lada served in several progressively more senior finance leadership positions, including Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasury, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of the Global Medical Division, and Chief Financial Officer for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, with Cantel Medical Corporation from 2015 until Cantel’s acquisition by STERIS plc in June 2021. Cantel is a global provider of innovative infection prevention products and services. Mr. Lada also previously held financial leadership positions at Medtronic, Inc., IDEX Corporation and GE Transportation.
​Mr. Lada’s initial annual base salary will be $525,000. Mr. Lada will participate in the Company’s Executive Incentive Bonus Plan with a target bonus percentage equal to 75% of his base salary. For 2025, Mr. Lada will receive a prorated bonus based on the number of days he was employed by the Company during the year. The Company has agreed to pay customary, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Mr. Lada in connection with his relocation to the North Andover, Massachusetts area. Mr. Lada will be added as a participant under the Executive Severance Plan, the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and Management Stock Purchase Plan and be eligible to participate in customary benefit plans, including medical insurance plans, life insurance plan and retirement savings plan, and he will be entitled to an annual Company-paid executive physical examination. The Company will also provide Mr. Lada with a $14,000 annual car allowance and an annual executive financial planning allowance of up to $15,875.
​In connection with his hiring, Mr. Lada will be granted a deferred stock award with a value of $500,000, which will vest one-third each year over three years.​​​SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 

Date: July 14, 2025	WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
	By:	/s/ Kenneth R. Lepage
		Kenneth R. Lepage
		General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer & Secretary

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FAQ

Why did Watts Water Technologies (WTS) file an 8-K on July 14, 2025?

To disclose the appointment of Ryan Lada as Chief Financial Officer effective July 28, 2025 and related compensation terms.

Who is the new CFO of WTS and when does he start?

Ryan Lada will become Chief Financial Officer on July 28, 2025.

What is Ryan Lada’s base salary at Watts Water Technologies?

His initial annual base salary is $525,000.

What bonus opportunity will the new CFO receive?

He is eligible for an annual incentive bonus targeted at 75 % of base salary, prorated for 2025.

What equity award is granted to the incoming CFO?

A $500,000 deferred stock award vesting one-third per year over three years.

What happens to the current CFO, Shashank Patel?

He steps down on July 28, 2025 and will provide transition services until his planned retirement.