Michael J. Whitehead was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Matthews International Corp, succeeding Joseph C. Bartolacci, effective August 31, 2026. As of November 6, 2026, Matthews International Corp has reported 4 leadership change filings to the SEC under Item 5.02 of Form 8-K, from April 10, 2026 to October 1, 2026, naming 1 appointment and 2 departures (Form 8-K, August 11, 2026).
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Key facts
- · In / out: Reported · Person: not named in the filing · 8-K, 2026-10-01
- · In / out: Out · Person: Joseph C. Bartolacci · Role: President and Chief Executive Officer · 8-K, 2026-08-11
- · In / out: Out · Person: Joseph C. Bartolacci · Role: President and Chief Executive Officer · 8-K, 2026-08-04
- · In / out: Reported · Person: not named in the filing · 8-K, 2026-04-10
Matthews International Corp reported changes in 4 filings among its directors and officers to the SEC on Form 8-K, Item 5.02, from 2026-04-10 to 2026-10-01. They name 2 people, with 1 appointment and 2 departures. Every row below is cited to the filing it comes from, and this page adds each new change as Matthews International Corp files it.
Also on the record for Matthews International Corp
| Date | Record | Figure | Our page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 30, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by Vanguard Capital Management | 4.89% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| October 20, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. | 9.68% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| October 5, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by BlackRock, Inc. | 7.8% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| October 2, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G, by Private Capital Management, LLC | 5.59% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| August 10, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G, by Oaktree Capital Management LP | 6.17% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| July 31, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G, by Vanguard Capital Management | 5% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| July 31, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by Vanguard Portfolio Management | 4.04% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| April 29, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G, by Vanguard Portfolio Management | 5.79% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| April 9, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G, by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP | 5.2% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| March 27, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by The Vanguard Group | — | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| August 14, 2025 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | 5.4% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| July 18, 2025 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by BlackRock, Inc. | 14.2% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
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More on Matthews International Corp and the records around it.
Matthews International Corp elsewhere on the record
- 5%+ stake filings Oct 2026
- Who owns it
Companies that share a holder
- Oaktree Capital Management LP also filed stake reports on 3 other companies: Quantum Corporation (Aug 2026), SharonAI Holdings Inc. (Aug 2026), Rice Acquisition Corp 3 (Feb 2026)
- Private Capital Management, LLC also filed stake reports on 4 other companies: Barrett Business Services, Inc. (Oct 2026), Target Hospitality Corp. (Jul 2026), Perion Network Ltd. (Feb 2026)
- Ameriprise Financial, Inc. also filed stake reports on 65 other companies: Universal Electronics Inc. (Sep 2026), America's Car-Mart, Inc. (Aug 2026), Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation (Aug 2026)
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Timeline
| Filed | In / out | Person | Role | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Reported | not named in the filing | 8-K, 2026-10-01 | ||
| 2026-08-11 | Out | President and Chief Executive Officer | 8-K, 2026-08-11 | ||
| 2026-08-11 | In | President and Chief Executive Officer | 2026-08-31 | 8-K, 2026-08-11 | |
| 2026-08-04 | Out | President and Chief Executive Officer | 8-K, 2026-08-04 | ||
| 2026-04-10 | Reported | not named in the filing | 8-K, 2026-04-10 |
Who leads Matthews International Corp, as last reported?
For each role that changed in the filings below, the most recent change reported. A role that did not change in these filings is not listed.
- President and Chief Executive Officer: Michael J. Whitehead, appointed, effective 2026-08-31 (filed 2026-08-11).
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Reported
(b) On September 28, 2026, each of Katherine E. Dietze and Morgan K. O'Brien, directors of Matthews International Corporation (the "Company"), notified the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") that they will not stand for re-election at the Company's 2027 annual meeting of shareholders (the "2027 Meeting").
- Neither Ms. Dietze's nor Mr. O'Brien's decision to not stand for re-election is the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies, or practices.
- In connection with the ongoing simplification of the Company's operations and business portfolio and the Company's cost-reduction initiatives, the Board has determined to reduce its size from ten to eight members, effective immediately following the 2027 Meeting.
Departing: Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer
As previously announced, 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, and the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") had initiated a succession process to select a successor to Mr. Bartolacci.
Appointed: Michael J. Whitehead, President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 2026-08-31
On August 11, 2026 , the Board appointed Michael J. Whitehead, age 52, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and appointed Mr. Whitehead as a director on the Board, to become effective on August 31, 2026 (the "CEO Commencement Date").
- In connection with Mr. Whitehead's appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Whitehead and the Company entered into an offer letter dated August 5, 2026 (the "CEO Offer Letter").
- The CEO Offer Letter provides that commencing on the CEO Commencement Date, Mr. Whitehead will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
- Mr. Whitehead will receive an initial annual base salary equal to $1,000,000 per year, subject to applicable withholdings and deductions.
- Mr. Whitehead's base salary will be subject to at least annual reviews for increases by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee").
- In connection with Mr. Whitehead's appointment, the Company will pay Mr. Whitehead a one-time cash payment of $300,000 (the "Transition Cash Payment'), subject to applicable withholdings and deductions, which payment shall be made within 30 days of the CEO Commencement Date, subject to Mr. Whitehead's employment by the Company through such date.
- In the event that Mr. Whitehead resigns from employment or Mr. Whitehead's employment is terminated for cause (as defined below) by the Company within 12 months of the CEO Commencement Date, Mr. Whitehead will be required to repay the gross amount of the Transition Cash Payment within 30 days of such separation.
Departing: Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer
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.
- 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.
Reported
Starting on October 1, 2026 and through January 2, 2028 (the "Advisor Period"), Mr. Gackenbach will serve as Senior Advisor in a part-time capacity.
- On April 8, 2026, Matthews International Corporation (the "Company") entered into an Employment and Transition Agreement (the "Agreement") by and between the Company and Steven D. Gackenbach.
- Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Mr. Gackenbach will continue in his role as Group President, Memorialization on a full-time basis through September 30, 2026 (the "Current Employment Period").
- If Mr. Gackenbach elects to retire during the Advisor Period, he is entitled to accrued but unpaid compensation and certain benefits as described in the Agreement and will immediately transition into a consultant arrangement for a period of at least two years from the date of termination of the Advisor Period.
- During the Current Employment Period, Mr. Gackenbach is entitled to an annual base salary of $562,500 (the "Base Salary"), which amount will be reduced by 50% as of October 1, 2026 in connection with transitioning to the Advisor Period.
- In January 2027, Mr. Gackenbach will be entitled to a merit-based raise in accordance with the Company's standard procedures.
- Mr. Gackenbach is eligible for an annual bonus with a target opportunity equal to 60% of the Base Salary throughout the Current Employment Period, which is consistent with Mr. Gackenbach's bonus opportunity in recent fiscal years.
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Where this comes from
A public company must file a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC within four business days when a director leaves or is elected, or when its chief executive, chief financial, chief accounting or chief operating officer, or another named executive, departs or is appointed. That disclosure goes under Item 5.02 of the report.
Every change on this page is taken from one of those filings and quoted in the company's own words, with a link to the filing, so it can be checked at the source. Where a filing names the person, the role and the date a change takes effect, they are shown beside the quote. Where it does not, the quote stands on its own. A filing states what changed; it rarely states why, and neither does this page.