James C. Foster is Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. He joined the Company in 1976 as General Counsel and over his tenure has held various staff and managerial positions. Mr. Foster was named President in 1991, Chief Executive Officer in 1992, and Chair in 2000, and has been a director since 1989.
In January 2026, the Board announced a leadership transition plan under which Mr. Foster intends to retire and step down as Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board, effective as of May 5, 2026. Following that date, it is expected that he will remain a non-executive director of the Board. In recognition of his service as Chief Executive Officer for a portion of fiscal 2026, the Compensation Committee approved a grant of restricted stock units with an underlying fair market value of $3,000,000, with a two-year cliff vesting period.
Mr. Foster was selected to serve as a director due to his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, his depth of knowledge of the Company and its operations, his acute business judgment, and his extensive familiarity with the businesses in which the Company competes.