---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001072613-24-000465"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "EP"
cik: "0000887396"
company_name: "EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP"
filed_at: "2024-05-13T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-02T03:03:58.126295+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Empire Petroleum appoints CEO as interim CFO after CFO resignation

## Summary
- Former CFO Stephen L. Faulkner Jr. resigned effective March 28, 2024; search for successor continues.
- On May 10, 2024, Board appointed CEO Michael R. Morrisett to serve as principal financial officer temporarily.
- Morrisett continues in his roles as President and CEO while serving as interim CFO.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001072613-24-000465
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: EP
- cik: 0000887396
- company_name: EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP
- filed_at: 2024-05-13T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261324000465/0001072613-24-000465-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261324000465/emp_8k-18838.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-24-000465
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-24-000465.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-24-000465.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Stephen L. Faulkner, Jr. resigned as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer at EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
  source text: As previously reported, on March 12, 2024, Stephen L. Faulkner, Jr. (Larry) informed Empire Petroleum Corporation (the "Company") that he was resigning as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company effective on March 28, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261324000465/0001072613-24-000465-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael R. Morrisett was appointed as Principal Financial Officer at EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Principal Financial Officer
  source text: On May 10, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Michael R. Morrisett, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, to temporarily serve as the Company’s principal financial officer until the Company hires a replacement principal financial officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261324000465/0001072613-24-000465-index.htm

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