---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001072613-23-000257"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "EP"
cik: "0000887396"
company_name: "EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP"
filed_at: "2023-03-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-17T21:53:48.052497+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Empire Petroleum CEO Thomas Pritchard resigns; President Michael Morrisett appointed as CEO

## Summary
- Thomas W. Pritchard resigned as CEO and director effective March 16, 2023 to pursue other opportunities.
- Company will pay Pritchard $361,053.40 lump sum severance and extend option exercise to Sep 16, 2024.
- Michael R. Morrisett (President and CFO) appointed CEO on March 17, 2023 with no additional compensation.
- Severance payment condition: Pritchard must not revoke his release by March 23, 2023.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001072613-23-000257
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: EP
- cik: 0000887396
- company_name: EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP
- filed_at: 2023-03-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000257/0001072613-23-000257-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000257/emp_8k-18701.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-23-000257
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-23-000257.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-23-000257.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Thomas W. Pritchard resigned as Chief Executive Officer at EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On March 16, 2023, Thomas W. Pritchard resigned as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Empire Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) to pursue other opportunities.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000257/0001072613-23-000257-index.htm
- Executive change
  Thomas W. Pritchard resigned as Director at EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: On March 16, 2023, Thomas W. Pritchard resigned as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Empire Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) to pursue other opportunities.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000257/0001072613-23-000257-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael R. Morrisett was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On March 17, 2023, the Board of Directors appointed Michael R. Morrisett to the position of Chief Executive Officer, in addition to his current duties of President and Principal Financial Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000257/0001072613-23-000257-index.htm

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