H Partners has taken the following three steps in order to put H-D back on the path to success:
- H Partners has filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC to solicit fellow shareholders to vote WITHHOLD on the election of Mr. Zeitz (CEO, Chairman, and a Board member for 18 years), Mr. Linebarger (Presiding Director and Board member for 17 years) and Ms. Levinson (Board member for 29 years).
- In H Partners' view, these seemingly out-of-touch directors must be removed from the boardroom so that H-D can once again advance the interests of all of the Company’s stakeholders.
- H Partners is calling on the Board to immediately remove Mr. Zeitz as CEO and install an internal senior leader as interim CEO on a short-term basis until an external, permanent CEO is selected.
- H Partners believes it defies logic for Mr. Zeitz, an outgoing CEO with a poor track record at H-D, to make any key decisions that impact the Company’s future.
- H Partners is calling on shareholders to send a clear message to the Board that the status quo is unacceptable, and that a new, external CEO should be appointed to renew Harley-Davidson.
- H Partners believes it is imperative to find a leader who will repair the relationship with dealers, engage with riders, respect and strengthen the brand, improve the corporate culture, restore the physical presence of the Company at its historic Milwaukee headquarters, and return H-D to greatness.
Further information regarding the above is available in H Partners' definitive proxy statement, which can be found here.