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): November 12, 2012

Kennametal Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (724) 539-5000

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On November 12, 2012, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Kennametal Inc. (the “Company”) elected Cindy L. Davis to serve as a Director of the Third Class, with a term to expire at the Company’s Annual Meeting of the Shareowners in October 2013. She will serve as a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating / Corporate Governance Committee.

Ms. Davis is Vice President of NIKE, Inc. and President of Nike Golf. NIKE, Inc. is a global leading innovator in athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories.

Ms. Davis is eligible to participate in all compensation plans applicable to non-employee members of the Board, as described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed on September 18, 2012. She is also entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with his service on the Board and his attendance at Board and Committee meetings.

Ms. Davis will be entering into an Indemnification Agreement with the Company in the form previously approved by the Board. Under the Indemnification Agreement, a form of which was filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company on March 22, 2005 and is incorporated herein by reference, Ms. Davis will be entitled to be held harmless and indemnified by the Company against liability other than for willful misconduct or recklessness. The Indemnification Agreement also provides for the advancement of expenses.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Davis and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Davis was appointed to the Board. Ms. Davis has not entered into any transactions with the Company that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

A copy of the press release announcing the appointment of Ms. Davis is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The information in the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Signatures

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.