TENNANT CO 8-K

What Happened Tennant Company announced on June 17, 2026, that Richard H. (Rusty) Zay (age 55) will become Chief Operating Officer effective July 1, 2026. Mr. Zay currently serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer (since March 2021) and has been with Tennant since June 2010 in a variety of senior roles including global marketing, Americas business unit leadership, and responsibility for research & development.

Key Details

• Promotion effective date: July 1, 2026.
• Executive background: Joined Tennant in June 2010; named SVP, Global Marketing in Oct 2013; SVP of Americas in 2014; added R&D responsibility in 2018; SVP, Chief Commercial Officer since March 2021.
• Compensation action: Compensation Committee approved incremental equity awards valued at $400,000 to recognize increased responsibilities and to retain/incentivize Mr. Zay.
• Award structure: 50% restricted stock units (RSUs) and 50% performance-based RSUs, with the same terms as Tennant’s annual 2026 executive grants; awards to be granted when the Company’s quarterly trading window opens.

Why It Matters This filing reports a senior leadership promotion that centralizes commercial, regional and R&D experience in the COO role, signaling continuity in Tennant’s operating leadership. The company approved a $400,000 equity package to retain and incentivize the new COO; investors should note this is an equity-based, not cash, cost and will follow the same vesting/performance structure used for 2026 executive grants. A press release announcing the appointment was attached to the 8-K.