Avanos Medical, Inc. announced that it intends to nominate Jim Cunniff and Bill Burke as independent directors at its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. These Avanos Board nominees will stand for election, subject to customary background checks.
The company aims to strengthen board leadership and align governance with its long-term strategic priorities. In addition, Avanos signed a cooperation agreement with Bradley L. Radoff and one of his affiliates to support the nomination process.
Leadership Experience of the Avanos Board Nominees
James (“Jim”) L. Cunniff serves as President and CEO of Electromed, Inc.. He brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in the medical technology sector. As a result, he offers deep operational expertise that can help Avanos accelerate growth and improve execution.
William (“Bill”) P. Burke previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Haemonetics Corporation. Throughout his career, he led finance and accounting functions across global medtech organizations. Therefore, he strengthens financial oversight and supports disciplined capital allocation at Avanos.
Gary Blackford, Chair of the Avanos Board, highlighted that the Avanos Board nominees bring complementary skills. Moreover, he emphasized that their leadership backgrounds and financial experience will enhance board performance and introduce fresh strategic perspectives.
Cooperation Agreement Supports Governance Alignment
Avanos entered into a cooperation agreement with Bradley L. Radoff as part of its governance update. This agreement reinforces the company’s commitment to shareholder engagement. Furthermore, it ensures alignment as Avanos prepares for its 2026 Annual Meeting.
Mr. Radoff expressed confidence in Avanos’ long-term direction. He also stated that the new Avanos Board nominees can help position the company for sustained success. Consequently, this collaboration demonstrates constructive dialogue between management and investors.
Next Steps for the 2026 Annual Meeting
The Board will present its formal recommendation regarding the Avanos Board nominees in the company’s definitive proxy statement. Avanos will file these materials with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and distribute them to eligible shareholders ahead of the meeting.
In addition, Avanos will file the full cooperation agreement as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. Overall, these actions highlight the company’s proactive governance approach and its focus on long-term value creation.
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