Franklin Covey announces executive leadership changes

Published 21/04/2025, 21:38
Franklin Covey announces executive leadership changes

Salt Lake City-based Franklin Covey Co . (NYSE:FC), a global company specializing in performance improvement with impressive gross profit margins of 77%, announced significant changes to its executive team today. The company, which has demonstrated strong financial health according to InvestingPro analysis, maintains a solid balance sheet with more cash than debt. Stephen D. Young is set to retire as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective May 1, 2025, after more than two decades with the company. Young, who has served as CFO since November 2002, will transition to a senior advisory role until August 31, 2025, to assist with the changeover.

Jessica Betjemann has been appointed as the new CFO, bringing over 30 years of financial management experience to the role. Betjemann’s background includes senior positions at Gogo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GOGO), Nokia (HE:NOKIA), and Alcatel-Lucent (EPA:ALUA). Her compensation package includes an annual base salary of $450,000, with additional performance-based cash and equity incentives. She joins at a crucial time, with the stock trading near its 52-week low of $18.94 and showing a significant decline of nearly 50% over the past six months.

Concurrently, A. Derek Hatch will step into the role of Chief Accounting Officer (CAO), Controller, and Treasurer on the same day. Hatch has been with Franklin Covey since 1996 and has held various accounting and finance roles. His new salary will be $280,000 annually, with performance-based cash and equity awards.

These executive appointments come as part of a planned leadership transition, ensuring continuity within the company’s financial operations. The company has clarified that neither Betjemann nor Hatch have any familial relationships with current company executives or board members, nor are they involved in any related person transactions with the company.

The information reported in this article is based on a press release statement. According to InvestingPro’s comprehensive analysis, Franklin Covey maintains a strong financial health score, with robust cash flows sufficiently covering interest payments. For deeper insights into FC’s financial metrics and future prospects, including 15+ additional ProTips and detailed valuation analysis, explore the full Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Franklin Covey reported its Q2 2025 earnings, revealing a mixed financial performance. The company’s earnings per share (EPS) were -$0.08, surpassing the forecasted -$0.10, yet its revenue of $59.6 million fell short of the $62.24 million estimate. This revenue miss contributed to a significant stock decline, as investors reacted to the cautious outlook. Franklin Covey also lowered its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $275 million to $285 million, reflecting a 2.5% decrease from the previous year. Despite these challenges, the company saw a 10% increase in multiyear contract additions, indicating strong client retention. CEO Paul Walker emphasized confidence in the company’s subscription business model, which could provide stability in uncertain economic conditions. Franklin Covey plans to continue investing in growth initiatives and its sales strategy. The company is navigating external economic uncertainties and trade tensions, which have impacted its revenue growth.

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