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): January 16, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(713 ) 332-8400
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):
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
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.
(c) Appointment of Steven D. Metzger as President and Chief Operating Officer
On January 16, 2026, Carriage Services, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) appointed, effective as of February 2, 2026, Steven D. Metzger, age 47, to serve as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Metzger’s appointment is in connection with certain executive leadership changes and appointments announced by the Company to better align with the Company’s business strategy.
Mr. Metzger joined the Company in May 2018 and has served as the Company’s President and Secretary since June 2023. Prior to that, he served as the Company’s Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary from June 2021 until his promotion in June 2023. Prior to joining Carriage, Mr. Metzger served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for a publicly traded company in the restaurant industry. Prior to that, he spent seven years with Service Corporation International (“SCI”) where he served in various leadership roles including Managing Counsel for the Legal Department and Chief Compliance Officer for SCI’s registered investment advisor. Mr. Metzger began his career as a litigator at a Houston law firm and received both his B.A. in Government and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.
There are no new compensatory arrangements entered into with Mr. Metzger in connection with his appointment as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Metzger does not have any family relationships with any executive officer or director of the Company, and there are no related transactions between Mr. Metzger and the Company that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in connection with his appointment. The appointment of Mr. Metzger to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer was not pursuant to any arrangement or understanding with respect to any other person.
ITEM 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
On January 16, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing certain executive leadership changes and appointments. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference therein.
The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
The information contained in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit furnished hereto contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company and cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
The following are furnished as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:
| Exhibit | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | ||||||||
| 101 | Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | |||||||
| 104 | The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as Inline XBRL | |||||||
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC. | |||||||||||
| Dated: January 16, 2026 | By: | /s/ John Enwright | |||||||||
| John Enwright | |||||||||||
| Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |||||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
Carriage Services Announces Executive Promotions Aligned with 2030 Vision and Long-Term Growth Strategy
HOUSTON, January 16, 2026—Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) today announced a series of executive leadership promotions and appointments that reflect the Company’s continued momentum and its deliberate efforts over the past several years to build a durable foundation for sustained growth.
Over the last three years, Carriage Services has focused on stabilizing the business, reinforcing its culture, improving performance, and restoring momentum. This work has positioned the Company to move forward with confidence, discipline, and clarity as it advances toward its 2030 Vision.
“These leadership moves are the result of intentional work to create the right foundation for sustainable, purposeful growth, and a culture of meritocracy,” said Carlos Quezada, Vice Chairman and CEO of Carriage Services. “As we move forward, alignment at the leadership level is essential to executing our strategy while remaining deeply committed to our culture and our Passion for Service.”
Effective February 2, 2026:
•Steve Metzger has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer, assuming responsibility for Operations, Sales, Marketing, and M&A, with a focus on alignment across execution and growth initiatives.
•Rene Negrete has joined Carriage Services as Vice President of Operations, bringing more than two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and operations leadership within the funeral and cemetery profession. Rene’s background in driving sustainable growth, building performance-driven cultures, and elevating customer experience further supports Carriage Services’ long-term growth ambitions.
•Sam A. Mazzu, III has been promoted to Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, continuing to lead Carriage Services’ legal function with a disciplined, partnership-oriented approach to governance and risk stewardship.
•Christine Ngo has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources, expanding her leadership role in developing people, culture, and performance excellence across the organization.
•Alfred White has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing, continuing to elevate Carriage’s brand, voice, and connection with families and communities.
In addition, John Enwright, Chief Financial Officer, has assumed expanded responsibility with oversight of Information Technology and Supply Chain, further aligning financial discipline with the systems and infrastructure that support long-term value creation.
Messrs. Negrete, Mazzu, and White, and Ms. Ngo, will join the Carriage Services Executive Team, reflecting the Company’s belief that strong leadership across people, governance, brand, and operations is essential to delivering premier experiences.
“This new leadership structure directly supports Carriage’s three strategic objectives: Purposeful Growth, Relentless Improvement, and Empowered Partnership,” Quezada added. “They position us to scale responsibly, invest in our people, and consistently deliver meaningful experiences for the families and communities we serve, all in service of our 2030 Vision.”
Exhibit 99.1
With a clear strategy, a committed leadership team, and a strong cultural foundation, Carriage Services continues to move forward with confidence and intention.
About Carriage Services:
Carriage Services is a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the United States. Carriage operated 155 funeral homes in 24 states and 28 cemeteries in 9 states as of December 31, 2025. It is dedicated to delivering premier experiences through innovation, partnership, and elevated service.
For additional information please contact:
Investors: Betina Bruno, Senior Financial Analyst. (713) 332-8954
Media: Alfred White, Vice President of Marketing. (713) 332-8458
Cautionary Statement
Certain statements made herein or elsewhere by, or on behalf of, Carriage (the "Company") that are not historical facts are intended to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable; however, many important factors, as discussed under "Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Statements" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, could cause the Company's results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by, or on behalf of, the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other information about the Company and news releases, are available at https://www.carriageservices.com.