FOSTER L B CO appointed new CEO

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


L.B. Foster Company (the "Company") announced that, on February 8, 2021, its Board of Directors (the "Board") appointed Mr. William M. Thalman as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, with his term commencing effective March 1, 2021 (the "Start Date"). Mr. Thalman will serve in such position until a successor has been selected and qualified or until his earlier separation or removal.


Mr. Thalman, age 54, was employed by Kennametal, Inc., a publicly-traded corporation providing metal cutting and wear-protection solutions to various industries, since 2004, most recently serving as Vice President - Advanced Material Solutions since 2016 and Vice President - Transformation Office since 2019, prior to which he served in roles of increasing responsibility, including: Vice President - Finance Infrastructure, Director of Finance - M&A and Planning, Director of Finance - Kennametal Europe, Director of Finance - MSSG Americas, Assistant Corporate Controller, and Director of Financial Reporting. Prior to Kennametal, Mr. Thalman was employed by Wesco, Inc., from 2002 to 2004 as Corporate Controller, and by The Carbide/Graphite Group, Inc. as Vice President and Treasurer and Manager of External Reporting and Investor Relations from 1993 to 2002. He also worked in public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers) from 1988 to 1993. Mr. Thalman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from West Virginia University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh.


Robert P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented on the appointment, "I am very pleased that Bill has decided to join the management team as our Chief Financial Officer. He brings a unique set of skills and ideas from years of experience in leadership positions that include financial, operations, and business transformation assignments. His demonstrated success and leadership qualities are an excellent fit, and they come at a time when the company is sharply focused on driving performance improvements and adapting to changing markets."


In connection with his employment with the Company, Mr. Thalman will be paid an annual base salary of $340,000 and will be eligible to receive a 2021 annual cash incentive (at target) equal to 55% of his base salary, if earned. On the Start Date, Mr. Thalman will be granted long-term incentive awards under the Company's equity plan with a target payout of $275,000, consisting of 34% payable in restricted stock vesting in 33 1/3% increments over three years (subject to his continued employment with the Company), and 66% in performance share units which, if earned, based upon the achievement of the applicable performance goals, would be paid at the end of the three-year performance period. Within three days of the Start Date, Mr. Thalman will be granted 15,000 shares of Company restricted stock, which award shall vest in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversary dates of the grant subject to his continued employment with the Company. As an officer of the Company, he will be entitled to the benefit of the Company's directors' and officers' insurance, Company-paid long-term disability and life insurance premiums, financial counseling, a Company car allowance, participation in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, and separation payments under the Company Key Employee Separation Plan in the event of both a change in control and qualifying termination of employment. He will also be eligible to participate in other medical and benefit programs generally offered to employees of the Company. Mr. Thalman has signed a Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, and Non-Compete Agreement which provides for restrictions on competition for one year post-separation, and non-solicitation of customers and employees for two years after termination of employment.