Harte Hanks, Inc. (NYSE:HHS) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On January 4, 2019, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Harte Hanks, Inc. (the “Company” or “HHS”) announced that Timothy E. “Bant” Breen, a current member of the Board, was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and that Andrew Harrison, the Company’s current Executive Vice President, Contact Centers & CHRO, was promoted to the role of President and Chief Operating Officer, in each case effective immediately.
On August 28, 2018, the Company announced the departure of Karen Puckett from her role as President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as her resignation from her membership on the Company’s Board and any officer and director positions with the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company created a temporary office of the CEO (the “Office of the CEO”) to serve as a leadership group and share the duties of the Chief Executive Officer until a new leader was appointed. The selection of each of Mr. Breen and Mr. Harrison is the culmination of this transitional phase.
In connection with his appointment, the Company and Mr. Breen executed a written offer letter (the “Employment Agreement”), which provides for the following compensation terms for Mr. Breen. to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Breen will receive a base salary of $380,000 per year, subject to increases at the discretion of the Board. Mr. Breen will receive a sign-on bonus in an amount that yields a payment of $50,000, net of applicable taxes. Mr. Breen is eligible to participate in the Company’s performance based cash incentive bonus program, with a target annual bonus opportunity equal to 50% of his base salary and a maximum bonus opportunity of 200% of his base salary. The Compensation Committee approved a grant of restricted stock units (the “RSUs”) to Mr. Breen with a value of $750,000. The RSUs vest in three equal tranches if, following a period of at least one full year from the date of grant, the closing price of HHS shares for 30 consecutive days is at least: (i) $6.00 per share for the first tranche; (ii) $10.00 per share for the second tranche; and (iii) $12.50 per share for the third tranche. The RSUs will be subject to the standard terms and conditions of such awards under the Harte Hanks 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the corresponding Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. Mr. Breen is also eligible to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans as in effect from time to time on the same basis as generally made available to other senior executives of the Company.
Mr. Breen will be a designated participant in the Company’s executive severance policy (see Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2015) (the “Executive Severance Policy”) and will be offered an indemnification agreement substantially in the form entered into with directors and officers of the Company. Mr. Breen may also elect to receive a year’s annual incentive payment in the form of restricted stock and will enter into a salary continuation policy.
In connection with his promotion and to an offer letter with the Company, Mr. Harrison will receive a base salary of $332,000, a target annual cash bonus opportunity of 75% of annual base salary for 2019 and a maximum bonus opportunity of 150% of annual base salary. The agreement also provides for a grant of RSUs with a value of $360,000. The RSUs vest in three equal tranches if, following a period of at least one full year from the date of grant, the closing price of HHS shares for 30 consecutive days is at least: (i) $6.00 per share for the first tranche; (ii) $10.00 per share for the second tranche; and (iii) $12.50 per share for the third tranche. The RSUs will be subject to the standard terms and conditions of such awards under the Harte Hanks 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the corresponding Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. Mr. Harrison is also eligible for future equity awards consistent with individual performance and the Company’s regular annual equity award review process. Mr. Harrison will be guaranteed a minimum of twelve months of severance upon involuntary termination, except in the instance of a for-cause termination, as defined in the Company’s Executive Severance Policy.
The information specified in Item 5.02(c)(2) with respect to Messrs. Breen and. Harrison is included in the Company’s proxy statement, filed on July 13, 2018, and is incorporated by reference herein.
On January 4, 2019, the Company issued a press release in connection with the announcement of Mr. Breen’s and Mr. Harrison’s appointments. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
HARTE HANKS INC Exhibit
EX-99.1 2 hhsbreenandharrisonappoint.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit NEWS RELEASEHarte Hanks Names Industry Veteran Bant Breen as CEOAndrew Harrison Promoted to President & COONew York ,…
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About Harte Hanks, Inc. (NYSE:HHS)
Harte Hanks, Inc. (Harte Hanks) is a multi-channel marketing company. The Company’s Customer Interaction business offers a range of marketing services, in media from direct mail to e-mail, including agency and digital services; database marketing solutions and business-to-business lead generation; direct mail, and contact centers. Its agency services are customer engagement agencies specializing in direct and digital communications for both consumer and business-to-business markets. The Company’s digital solutions integrate online services within the marketing mix and include search engine management, display, digital analytics, Website development and design, digital strategy, social media, e-mail, e-commerce and interactive relationship management and a range of other services that support its core businesses.
