---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000793074-23-000011"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WERN"
cik: "0000793074"
company_name: "WERNER ENTERPRISES INC"
filed_at: "2023-02-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-19T03:38:15.309217+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Werner Enterprises appoints Chris Wikoff as CFO effective April 18, 2023

## Summary
- Chris Wikoff named EVP, Treasurer and CFO, succeeding John J. Steele who announced retirement in August 2022.
- Wikoff's starting compensation: $495,000 base salary, 70% target cash incentive, $400,000 annual equity award.
- One-time $250,000 cash sign-on bonus and $1,000,000 retention equity award (vests over 5 years).
- Wikoff previously EVP and Treasurer at West Technology Group; over 20 years finance leadership experience.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000793074-23-000011
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WERN
- cik: 0000793074
- company_name: WERNER ENTERPRISES INC
- filed_at: 2023-02-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/793074/000079307423000011/0000793074-23-000011-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/793074/000079307423000011/wern-20230223.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000793074-23-000011
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000793074-23-000011.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000793074-23-000011.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John J. Steele retired as Chief Financial Officer at WERNER ENTERPRISES INC.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Mr. Wikoff will begin serving as the Company's CFO on April 18, 2023, succeeding John J. Steele, who announced his retirement plans in August 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/793074/000079307423000011/0000793074-23-000011-index.htm
- Executive change
  Christopher D. Wikoff was appointed as Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer at WERNER ENTERPRISES INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On February 23, 2023, Werner Enterprises, Inc. (the "Company") announced that its Board of Directors appointed Christopher D. Wikoff to serve as Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/793074/000079307423000011/0000793074-23-000011-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.