8-K
Blue Bird Corp (BLBD)
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): December 24, 2025
BLUE BIRD CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-36267 | 46-3891989 |
|---|---|---|
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of<br>Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer<br>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 class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value | BLBD | NASDAQ 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.
(b) On December 24, 2025, Mr. Phil Horlock, a Class III director of Blue Bird Corporation (the “Company”), tendered his resignation from our Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Horlock’s decision was not based on any disagreement with the Company regarding its operations, policies or practices.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
We issued a press release on December 29, 2025, announcing the event reported in this Current Report on Form 8-K, 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 December 29, 2025, announcing resignation of Phil Horlock from Board of Directors and statement of appreciation for service to the Company.
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: December 29, 2025
Document
Former Blue Bird CEO to Retire from Board
Phil Horlock to Resign Following Successful CEO Transition
MACON, GEORGIA – December 29, 2025 – Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and clean-emission school buses, today announced that Phil Horlock, former Chief Executive Officer and a member of the company’s Board of Directors, will be stepping down from the Board, effective immediately.
Phil served as President & CEO of Blue Bird for more than 12 years, leading the organization through a period of transformative growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation. Following his tenure as CEO, Phil remained on the Board after the appointment of John Wyskiel as President and CEO nearly one year ago. Horlock continued to provide strategic insight and mentorship to the company’s leadership team, which has positioned the company for continued future success.
“On behalf of the entire Board and leadership team, I want to thank Phil for his extraordinary service to Blue Bird,” said Doug Grimm, Chairman of the Board. “His vision, discipline, and integrity as CEO helped shape the strong foundation we operate from today. As a director, his voice has been indispensable, and we are grateful for the legacy of excellence he leaves behind. We wish Phil all the best in his retirement.”
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve Blue Bird, as CEO and as a director of this outstanding Board,” said Phil Horlock. “I leave with full confidence in the current leadership and the strategic direction of the company, and I look forward to watching Blue Bird continue to lead the industry into the future.”
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 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. 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.
Contact
Mark Benfield
Blue Bird Corporation
(478) 822-2315
Mark.Benfield@blue-bird.com