U.S. 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):  December 12, 2008
 
Photonic Products Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
000-11668
 
22-2003247
(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation)
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification
Number)
         
181 Legrand Avenue, Northvale, New Jersey
 
07647
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (201) 767-1910
 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
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:
 
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 

 
Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers;   Election of Directors;   Appointment of Certain Officers;   Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
 
Photonic Products Group, Inc. (PPGI, the “Company”) announced today that Joseph J. Rutherford has been selected to become President and CEO, effective January 1, 2009, succeeding Daniel Lehrfeld.  Mr. Lehrfeld had previously announced his intention to step down as CEO in late December. Mr. Rutherford has since August 2008 served as VP/GM of PPGI’s MRC Optics subsidiary.

Mr. Lehrfeld continues as a member of the Board of Directors, and intends to enter into a consulting agreement with the Company to provide transitional assistance to Mr. Rutherford.

Mr. Rutherford has more than 30 years of experience in optical component development and manufacturing businesses.  From 1989 through 2006 he was VP/GM of Charlotte, NC-based Synoptics, a subsidiary successively of Litton and Northrop Grumman Corporations, an industry leader in crystal products and related optical components.  Prior to that, he held executive level sales and marketing positions within Memtech, Material Progress Corporation and Allied Corporation.

Mr. Rutherford’s employment will be at-will. He will receive a salary of $180,000 per year and will be eligible to receive an annual bonus targeted at $50,000. Mr. Rutherford will also receive a stock option grant carrying an imputed value of $30,000 in recognition of his promotion to President and CEO. This stock option grant will have an exercise price which will be the closing price of PPGI’s stock on December 31, 2008, the day preceding his appointment as CEO.

A copy of the Offer of Employment to Mr. Rutherford and a Press Release dated December 12, 2008 announcing the appointment of Mr. Lehrfeld’s successor are included as attachments to this public filing.

9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)  The following exhibits are filed with this report.
 
Number                                Description of Exhibit
 
10.1                      Offer of Employment dated December 9, 2008
 
99.1                      Press Release dated December 12, 2008
 

 
SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
Date:        December 12, 2008
   
 
By:
/s/ Daniel Lehrfeld
 
   
(Daniel Lehrfeld)
 
   
Chief Executive Officer