Koppers Holdings Inc. announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Jimmi Sue Smith, will retire effective January 5 2026, and that the company will retain her as Treasurer and in an advisory capacity through February 28 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.
Smith, who has served as CFO since January 2022, will step down after four years of leading the company’s financial strategy. She will continue to oversee treasury functions and provide guidance to the board and executive team until the end of February, a move that signals the board’s intent to maintain continuity while a permanent successor is sought.
Bradley Pearce, Koppers’ Chief Accounting Officer since 2019, has been named interim CFO and will also retain his accounting responsibilities. Pearce joined the company in 2006 and has overseen accounting, tax and external reporting. His base salary was increased to $400,000 and his target incentive multiplier was raised from 40 % to 60 % of base, effective January 1 2026, reflecting the board’s confidence in his leadership during the transition.
The appointment comes as Koppers continues its Catalyst transformation program, launched in early 2025 to reengineer operations and lift EBITDA margins to the mid‑to‑high teens by 2027. Pearce has played a key role in Catalyst’s cost‑discipline initiatives, and his interim CFO role will keep the program’s momentum intact while the board conducts an external search for a permanent replacement.
During Smith’s tenure, Koppers optimized its capital structure, secured a $400 million senior secured Term Loan B that was later refinanced and upsized, and extended the maturity of its revolving credit facility. She also steered the company through the COVID‑19 pandemic, maintaining free‑cash‑flow generation and supporting strategic investments in the transformation program.
The transition is expected to have no immediate impact on Koppers’ financial guidance. The board has not announced a specific timeline for the external search, but the interim appointment is intended to preserve stability in financial reporting and capital‑market relationships while a permanent CFO is identified.
CEO Leroy Ball praised Smith’s contributions, noting her leadership during the pandemic and her role in strengthening the company’s balance sheet. Ball emphasized that the interim CFO will continue to support the Catalyst program and that the board remains confident in the company’s strategic trajectory.
No significant market reaction has been reported following the announcement, and analysts have not issued new guidance or commentary on the leadership change. The transition is viewed as a routine succession plan that preserves continuity in financial stewardship while the board seeks a long‑term replacement.
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