Koppers Appoints Bradley Pearce as Interim CFO Amid Leadership Transition
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 09 2026
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- Leadership Transition: Koppers Holdings announced the retirement of CFO Jimmi Sue Smith effective January 5, 2026, with Bradley Pearce appointed as interim CFO to ensure a smooth transition during the search for a permanent successor.
- Financial Management Experience: Pearce, who joined Koppers in 2006 and served as Chief Accounting Officer, oversaw accounting, tax, and external reporting, playing a crucial role in strategic initiatives to maintain financial stability.
- Capital Structure Optimization: Under Smith's leadership, Koppers secured a $400 million senior secured Term Loan B and extended the maturity of its revolving credit facility from 2025 to 2030, enhancing financial flexibility and strengthening the company's capital position.
- Community Contributions: During her tenure, Smith actively engaged with non-profits, setting a positive example for Koppers employees and fostering a culture of social responsibility within the company.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy KOP?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on KOP
Wall Street analysts forecast KOP stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for KOP is 55.00 USD with a low forecast of 55.00 USD and a high forecast of 55.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
1 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 29.620
Low
55.00
Averages
55.00
High
55.00
Current: 29.620
Low
55.00
Averages
55.00
High
55.00
About KOP
Koppers Holdings Inc. is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood preservation chemicals and carbon compounds. It operates through three segments: Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS), Performance Chemicals (PC) and Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC). The RUPS segment sells treated and untreated wood products, manufactured products and services to the railroad industry and treated wood products to the utility industry. The PC segment develops, manufactures, and markets wood preservation chemicals and wood treatment technologies and services a diverse range of end-markets including infrastructure, residential and commercial construction and agriculture. The CMC segment is a manufacturer of creosote, carbon pitch, naphthalene, phthalic anhydride and carbon black feedstock. It serves its customers through a comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution network, with manufacturing capabilities in North America, South America, Australasia and Europe.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Koppers Schedules 2025 Q4 and Full-Year Earnings Call
- Earnings Release Schedule: Koppers Holdings Inc. plans to announce its Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results before the market opens on February 26, 2026, indicating a commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Details: The call is set for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with participants requested to register five minutes early, reflecting the company's professionalism and focus on participant experience in investor relations.
- Audio Replay Service: An audio replay will be available approximately two hours after the call, lasting until May 26, 2026, ensuring that investors who cannot attend live can access critical information, enhancing information accessibility.
- Company Background: Koppers is a global leader in treated wood products and carbon compounds, employing around 1,850 people dedicated to providing safe and sustainable solutions that support global infrastructure, highlighting its significant role in the industry.
Continue Reading
Koppers CFO Jimmi Sue Smith to Retire in 2026, Interim CFO Appointed
- Executive Transition: Koppers Holdings announced the retirement of CFO Jimmi Sue Smith effective January 5, 2026, with Chief Accounting Officer Bradley Pearce appointed as interim CFO, demonstrating the company's agility in executive succession planning.
- Financial Optimization Achievements: Under Smith's leadership, the company successfully optimized its capital structure and achieved record free cash flow returns over the past two years, returning more dollars to shareholders than at any point in its history, thereby enhancing investor confidence.
- Successor Search: The company is conducting an external search for Smith's permanent successor, a process that may impact its financial strategy and future direction, particularly in capital management and cash flow optimization.
- Stock Price Reaction: Koppers' stock closed up 2.56% at $27.62 on the New York Stock Exchange, reflecting a positive market reaction to the executive change and potentially signaling investor optimism regarding future financial performance.
Continue Reading