CALAVO GROWERS INC appointed Steven Hollister as new CEO

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 On September 7, 2021, James E. Gibson gave notice of his retirement from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Calavo. His retirement from the Chief Executive Officer position is effective September 9, 2021. Calavo has engaged an executive search firm to identify candidates for a permanent Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gibson will continue as an employee of Calavo through September 30, 2021 to assist in transitioning his job responsibilities.



 On September 8, 2021, Steven Hollister, a member of Calavo's Board of Directors (the "Board"), was appointed to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Calavo on an interim basis effective September 9, 2021. Mr. Hollister will continue as a member of the Board, but he will no longer serve on the Audit Committee or the Compensation Committee of the Board. Marc Brown, an independent director, will be appointed September 9th to the Audit Committee to replace Mr. Hollister.



 Farha Aslam, who has been serving as interim Chief Financial Officer informed the Board on September 7, 2021 that she would resign from her position as interim Chief Financial effective September 9, 2021, in order to resume her status as an independent director on the Board. Steven Hollister will serve as interim Chief Financial Officer effective September 9, 2021. As previously disclosed, Calavo has engaged an executive search firm to identify candidates for a permanent Chief Financial Officer. 



 Mr. Hollister will be paid $50,000 per month for his services as interim Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer and will continue to earn compensation as a non-employee director as disclosed in Calavo's proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2021. Mr. Hollister will also be issued a stock option for 5,000 shares of Calavo stock with an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant and vesting as to 50% of the shares on the first and second anniversaries of the grant date.



 Mr. Hollister, age 63, has served on the Board for the last 13 years. Mr. Hollister has been a Managing Member of Rocking Spade, LLC, a diversified investor and developer with interests in ranching and commercial properties, since 2001. Previously Mr. Hollister was Vice President of Sunrise Mortgage & Investment Company, General Manager of Niven Family Wine Estates, Chief Operating Officer of Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard and Santa Barbara County Wine Center, and Senior Vice President of Central Coast Farm Credit. 



 In connection with his retirement, pursuant to a Separation and Release Agreement entered into between Calavo and Mr. Gibson on September 8, 2021, all outstanding equity awards held by Mr. Gibson as of the last day of his employment will vest in full subject to his execution of a release. Mr. Gibson will also be entitled to continue his health care coverage at his expense for a period of 36 months after the last day of his employment. 



 A copy of the press release announcing the retirement of Mr. Gibson and the appointments of Mr. Hollister and the Separation and Release Agreement described above are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.2 and 10.1, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.




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