Section 5 Corporate Governance and Management
Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On June 4, 2024, the Board of Directors of The GEO Group, Inc. (“GEO” or the “Company”) approved the appointment of Mark J. Suchinski as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective July 8, 2024.
Mr. Suchinski, 57, has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Spirit AeroSystems since 2020. In this role, Mr. Suchinski has been responsible for the overall financial management of Spirit AeroSystems, its financial reporting and transparency, and multiple corporate functions including Treasury, Investor Relations, Strategy, and Mergers and Acquisitions. Mr. Suchinski joined Spirit AeroSystems in 2006 as the Controller for the Aerostructures Segment. He subsequently served in increasingly senior positions, including as Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis and Corporate Contracts from 2010 to 2012, Vice President of Finance and Treasurer from 2012 to 2014, Vice President and Corporate Controller from 2014 to 2018, Vice President and General Manager of the 787 Program from 2018 to 2019, and Vice President of Quality from 2019 to 2020. Prior to joining Spirit AeroSystems, Mr. Suchinski held the position of Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for Home Products International from 2004 to 2006 and Corporate Controller from 2000 to 2004. Mr. Suchinski attended DePaul University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.
In connection with his appointment, Mr. Suchinski and the Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) to provide that Mr. Suchinski will be employed by the Company for a two-year term beginning July 8, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). Unless the Employment Agreement is sooner terminated, or not renewed, it will automatically extend upon the end of its initial term for a rolling two-year term. Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Suchinski will serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Either Mr. Suchinski or the Company may terminate Mr. Suchinski’s employment under the Employment Agreement for any reason upon not less than thirty (30) days written notice.
Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Suchinski will be paid an annual base salary of $700,000, subject to the review and potential increase in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Suchinski will also be entitled to receive a target annual performance award of 100% of Mr. Suchinski’s base salary in accordance with the terms of any plan governing the senior management performance awards then in effect. Mr. Suchinski will be entitled to receive an annual equity incentive award of restricted stock with a grant date fair value equal to at least 80% of his base salary that will vest upon the attainment of certain performance goals in accordance with the terms of the Company’s equity compensation plan. Mr. Suchinski will receive an initial grant of 50,000 shares of restricted stock that will vest upon the attainment of certain performance goals. In connection with the beginning of Mr. Suchinski’s employment, Mr. Suchinski shall be entitled to receive $150,000 to offset expenses in connection with his relocation, above and beyond the customary relocation benefits offered to employees, which shall be deducted from Mr. Suchinski’s annual performance award paid in 2025.
The Employment Agreement provides that upon the separation of employment by Mr. Suchinski for good reason, by the Company without cause or upon the death or disability of Mr. Suchinski, he will be entitled to receive a separation payment equal to two (2) times the sum of his annual base salary payable over a period of twenty-four (24) months. The Company will also continue to provide Mr. Suchinski and any covered dependents with the Executive Benefits as defined in the Employment Agreement for a period of eighteen (18) months after the date of separation. In the event of Mr. Suchinski’s death within such eighteen (18) month period, the Company will continue to provide the Executive Benefits to Mr. Suchinski’s covered dependents, and, if applicable to Mr. Suchinski’s estate. In addition, the Employment Agreement provides that upon such separation, GEO will transfer all of its interest in any automobile used