Malibu Boats appoints former GE Appliances COO to board of directors

LOUDON, Tenn. - Malibu Boats, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBUU) has appointed Melanie Cook to its Board of Directors as an independent director, effective Tuesday.

Cook, who previously served as Chief Operating Officer of GE Appliances until her retirement in 2021, will serve on the company’s Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee.

With over three decades of leadership experience, Cook managed global operations of GE Appliances’ multibillion-dollar business and its 13,000 employees. Her background includes senior leadership roles at General Electric in audit, finance, global sourcing, and supply chain operations.

Cook currently serves on the boards of Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CVGI) and Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida.

"Melanie’s experience leading complex manufacturing organizations and driving operational transformation will be a tremendous asset to Malibu," said Steve Menneto, President and CEO of Malibu Boats, in the press release.

Cook’s appointment comes ahead of John Stokely’s planned retirement in October 2025. Stokely has served on the company’s board since February 2014.

Malibu Boats designs and manufactures recreational powerboats, including performance sport, sterndrive and outboard boats under brands including Malibu, Axis, Cobalt, Pursuit, Cobia, Pathfinder, Maverick, and Hewes.

In other recent news, Badger Meter reported a strong first-quarter performance in 2025, surpassing expectations with a significant 25% increase in operating earnings compared to analyst estimates. The company’s earnings per share rose by 31% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for its metering products and a favorable product mix. RBC Capital Markets responded to these results by raising its price target for Badger Meter to $252, maintaining an Outperform rating. Meanwhile, Stifel also adjusted its price target for Badger Meter to $230, up from $200, while maintaining a Hold rating, reflecting confidence in the company’s growth prospects and margin expansion potential.

Raymond James initiated coverage on Badger Meter with a Market Perform rating, expressing concerns about the current valuation and potential risks associated with the market environment. Despite these concerns, the analysts acknowledged the company’s strong business fundamentals but noted that the current market conditions might not offer an attractive risk-reward scenario. Additionally, Badger Meter’s manufacturing facility in Mexico benefits from a tariff exemption under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, providing cost certainty amid tariff challenges. As the company continues to navigate the dynamic market landscape, investors remain attentive to its strategic decisions and performance in the coming quarters.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.