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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 22, 2024
  
BLUE BIRD CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
 
Delaware 001-36267 46-3891989
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)		 (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
3920 Arkwright Road
2nd Floor
Macon, Georgia 31210

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(478) 822-2801

(Registrant's telephone number including area code)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.0001 par valueBLBDNASDAQ Global Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐





Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(d) On October 23, 2024, the Board of Directors of Blue Bird Corporation (the “Company”) elected Mr. Edward T. Hightower as a Class I director of the Company. Mr. Hightower was also appointed to serve as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Mr. Hightower, age 59, is the founder and managing director of Motoring Ventures LLC, an advisory firm focused on the global automotive industry, since 2011. Mr. Hightower previously served as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President of Lordstown Motors Corp., an original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) of electric vehicles (“EV”) for the commercial fleet market, from 2021 to 2024. He led the operational turnaround of the company and the launch of its first vehicle, the Endurance all-electric full-size pickup truck. Mr. Hightower also served as CEO of the EV design and engineering joint venture between Lordstown and Foxconn, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer. Earlier, Mr. Hightower served in several executive roles between Ford Motor Company, BMW of North America, General Motors Company, and AlixPartners. He earned a BS in General Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Hightower and any other person(s) pursuant to which he was elected as a director. There are no existing transactions and no proposed transactions between Mr. Hightower and the Company that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Hightower will participate in our director compensation programs to the same extent as other directors (excluding previous compensation arrangements for Messrs. Penn and Thau), which have been previously disclosed most recently in our Definitive Proxy Statement dated February 5, 2024, with respect to our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, under the section titled “Fiscal 2023 Director Compensation.”

(e) On October 22, 2024, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved an increase in the annual base salary of Mr. Ted Scartz, our Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Mr. Scartz will receive an annual base salary of $420,000.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

We issued a press release on October 28, 2024, announcing the election of Mr. Edward T. Hightower to our Board of Directors, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report.

Item 9.01 Financial Statement and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1    Press Release dated October 28, 2024, announcing the election of Mr. Edward T. Hightower to the Company’s Board of Directors.

104     Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).





SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
                        
BLUE BIRD CORPORATION
By:/s/ Ted Scartz
Name:Ted Scartz
Title:Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Dated: October 28, 2024


image_0.jpg

PRESS RELEASE

Blue Bird Appoints Edward Hightower to its Board of Directors

MACON, Ga. (October 28, 2024) – Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, today announced the appointment of Edward T. Hightower to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Hightower, a seasoned global automotive executive and entrepreneur, joined Blue Bird as a Class I Director. He brings a wealth of electric vehicle and automotive industry experience to the iconic school bus manufacturer.

Edward T. Hightower has over 35 years of relevant executive leadership experience. He is the founder and managing director of Motoring Ventures LLC, an investment, growth, strategy, and operations consulting firm focused on driving value in the global automotive industry. Hightower previously served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of Lordstown Motors Corp., an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of electric vehicles (EV) for the commercial fleet market, from 2021 to 2024. He led the operational turnaround of the company and the launch of its first vehicle, the Endurance all-electric full-size pickup truck. Lordstown was one of the few new light-duty EV OEMs to successfully develop, launch, and deliver vehicles to customers. Hightower also served as CEO of the EV design and engineering joint venture between Lordstown and Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer. In addition, he held senior engineering, marketing and business development roles at Ford, BMW, and General Motors. Hightower also worked as a hands-on growth, strategy, operations, and M&A consultant at AlixPartners, LLP.



Hightower holds a bachelor of science degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a master of business administration degree from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

“We are pleased to welcome Edward to our Board of Directors as we continue to deliver on our profitable growth plans,” said Phil Horlock, President and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “As the clear leader in alternative-powered school buses, and with our customers continuing their dynamic transition toward electric, zero-emission and ultra-low emission school buses, we look forward to benefitting from Edward’s valuable and relevant experiences and contributions.”

Blue Bird is the proven leader in zero-emission student transportation with more than 2,000 electric-powered buses in operation today. The company’s zero-emission buses have covered more than five million miles already. Blue Bird is the only U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. The shift to clean student transportation helps Blue Bird sustain approximately 2,000 good-paying jobs.

image_1.jpg
Press Photo/Caption: Blue Bird appointed Edward T. Hightower to its Board of Directors. Hightower brings a wealth of electric vehicle and automotive industry experience to the iconic school bus manufacturer.


About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular


focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird's complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

Investor Contact
Mark Benfield
Blue Bird Corporation
T: +1.478.822.2315
E: Mark.Benfield@blue-bird.com

v3.24.3
Cover Page Document
Oct. 22, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Oct. 22, 2024
Entity Registrant Name BLUE BIRD CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE
Entity File Number 001-36267
Entity Tax Identification Number 46-3891989
Entity Address, Address Line One 3920 Arkwright Road
Entity Address, Address Line Two 2nd Floor
Entity Address, City or Town Macon
Entity Address, State or Province GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 31210
City Area Code 478
Local Phone Number 822-2801
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Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(g) Security Common stock, $0.0001 par value
Trading Symbol BLBD
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Entity Central Index Key 0001589526
Amendment Flag false
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