Utz Brands, Inc. filed a DEFA14A with the SEC on October 30, 2026, disclosing an all-associate email announcing that CEO Howard Friedman will depart following the company's pending transaction with Intersnack Group, and that John Lindeman will become CEO of the resulting private company effective December 1.

Key Highlights

  • CEO departure confirmed: Howard Friedman will conclude his tenure as CEO of Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE:UTZ) "soon after the transaction closes," with an anticipated departure date of November 30, according to the filing.
  • Successor named: John Lindeman will become CEO of Utz Brands Holdings, LLC ("UBH"), the private company being formed in partnership with Intersnack Group, effective December 1.
  • Transaction timing: The company expects the closing of its transaction with Intersnack Group to occur before the end of November, according to the filing.
  • Lindeman's background: The filing states Lindeman "most recently served as the President and CEO of Calavo Growers, Inc." and previously served as CEO and CFO of Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. and CFO of Calavo Growers, Inc.
  • Board continuity: Dylan Lissette, current Chairperson of the Utz Brands, Inc. Board of Directors, will serve as Executive Chairperson of the private company UBH following the transaction.
  • Lindeman's prior role: The filing notes Lindeman "served on the UBI Board throughout our time as Public Company Utz."

Leadership Transition at Utz Brands Ahead of Going-Private Closing

The filing consists of an all-associate email, dated October 30, 2026, authored by Dylan Lissette in his capacity as Board Chairperson of Utz Brands, Inc. and as future Executive Chairperson of Utz Brands Holdings, LLC. The email was shared with company employees and subsequently filed with the SEC as definitive additional proxy materials under Schedule 14A. Lissette described the communication as ensuring employees "heard this news directly" from him ahead of the anticipated closing.

According to the filing, Howard Friedman led Utz Brands, Inc. for "nearly four years." Lissette wrote that "during his tenure, Howard helped guide UBI through an important period of growth and efficiency gains," specifically citing the company's "reach into the natural channel through Boulder Canyon and the ongoing optimization of our Supply Chain" as accomplished under Friedman's leadership. The filing states Friedman "is planning his own communication" to associates closer to his anticipated November 30 departure date.

Friedman and Lindeman are described in the filing as planning "to work closely together over the next weeks to support continuity and ensure a smooth transition of the company from public to private." The filing notes that Lindeman is "a Pennsylvania native." The company has previously filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A and a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 in connection with the proposed Intersnack transaction. The record date for stockholder voting was stated as September 28, 2026.

What Was Disclosed

Utz Brands, Inc. filed definitive additional proxy materials on October 30, 2026, consisting of an internal employee email announcing CEO Howard Friedman's planned departure around November 30 and the appointment of John Lindeman as CEO of the successor private company effective December 1.