Utz Brands, Inc. filed a current report on Form 8-K on October 30, 2026, disclosing that CEO Howard Friedman will depart the company following the closing of its pending merger with Idaho USA, Inc., and that board member B. John Lindeman has been offered the post-closing CEO role at Company LLC.

Key Highlights

  • CEO departure announced: Howard Friedman, who serves as Chief Executive Officer, principal operating officer, and board member, informed the company on October 28, 2026, that he will cease employment shortly following the closing of the pending merger.
  • Effective date anticipated: According to the filing, Mr. Friedman's departure as an employee is anticipated to be effective November 30, 2026.
  • No disagreement cited: The filing states that Mr. Friedman's determination "was not the result of any disagreement with the Company, Parent, the Continuing Stockholders or their respective affiliates on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies, or practices."
  • Post-closing CEO identified: On October 29, 2026, Parent, Series U, and Series R entered into a letter agreement with board member B. John Lindeman to offer him the position of Chief Executive Officer of Utz Brands Holdings, LLC following the closing, subject to the closing occurring and a written employment agreement being executed.
  • Lindeman start date: Mr. Lindeman's contemplated employment start date is November 30, 2026, or such later date as mutually agreed between Company LLC and Mr. Lindeman.
  • Stockholder complaints filed: On October 22, 2026, two stockholders separately filed complaints in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, against the company and board members, captioned Williams v. Utz Brands, Inc. et al. and Thompson v. Utz Brands, Inc. et al., each asserting claims of negligent misrepresentation and concealment and negligence.
  • Special Meeting scheduled: The company's special meeting of stockholders is scheduled for November 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time via live interactive webcast.

Utz Brands Discloses CEO Transition and Supplemental Merger Details Ahead of November Vote

Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE:UTZ), the Delaware-incorporated snack food company headquartered at 900 High Street, Hanover, PA 17331, filed a current report on Form 8-K dated October 30, 2026, disclosing leadership changes tied to its pending merger. According to the filing, CEO Howard Friedman communicated on October 28, 2026, to the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary that he intends to cease employment shortly after the closing of the merger, in connection with the company's return to being a private company. His departure from the board is also expected at closing, when directors of Merger Sub become directors of the Surviving Corporation, as provided under the Merger Agreement.

The filing identifies the pending transaction as a merger under an Agreement and Plan of Merger entered July 20, 2026, between the company and Idaho USA, Inc. ("Acquiror"), Idaho Merger Sub, Inc. ("Merger Sub"), and Intersnack Group GmbH & Co. KG ("Parent"). Under that agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the company, which will then continue as the surviving corporation and become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. The company filed its definitive proxy statement on October 2, 2026, with the Special Meeting set for November 13, 2026.

As part of supplemental disclosures filed concurrently with an amended Schedule 13E-3/A, the company reported that a letter agreement was reached on October 29, 2026, offering board member B. John Lindeman the Chief Executive Officer role at Utz Brands Holdings, LLC following the closing, contingent on the closing and negotiation of a formal employment agreement. The filing also describes two stockholder complaints filed on October 22, 2026, in New York state court, each alleging negligent misrepresentation and concealment related to the Definitive Proxy Statement. The filing states that the company intends these supplemental disclosures to update the Definitive Proxy Statement, and notes that nothing in the CEO Supplemental Disclosures "shall be deemed an admission of the legal necessity or materiality under applicable law of any of the CEO Supplemental Disclosures."

What Was Disclosed

The filing disclosed CEO Howard Friedman's planned departure effective November 30, 2026, contingent on merger closing; the offer of the post-closing CEO role at Company LLC to board member B. John Lindeman; and two stockholder complaints filed October 22, 2026, in New York state court alleging misrepresentation in the proxy statement.