{"schema_version":"secwatch.filing_event.v1","accession":"0001104659-23-067079","form_type":"8-K","ticker":"CWT","cik":"0001035201","company_name":"CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP","filed_at":"2023-06-01T23:59:59+00:00","discovered_at":"2026-05-14T18:03:37.699054+00:00","generated_at":"2026-06-14T08:52:49.601997+00:00","sec_items":["5.02","5.07","8.01","9.01"],"event_type":"leadership","sentiment":"neutral","materiality_score":0.6,"calibrated_materiality_score":0.6,"confidence":"high","headline":"Cal Water CFO retires; interim CFO appointed; Chairman Nelson retires, Kropelnicki becomes Chairman","bullets":["CFO Thomas Smegal III retires May 31, 2023; will serve as strategic advisor for two years for $524,600.","David Healey appointed Interim CFO and Treasurer, annual salary $470,000; board seeks permanent CFO.","VP Engineering Robert Kuta departs May 31, 2023; receives $337,167 lump-sum for up to 20 hrs/week advisory for two months.","Chairman Peter Nelson retired; CEO Martin Kropelnicki becomes Chairman; Scott Morris remains Lead Independent Director.","Promotions: Michael Luu to SVP Corporate Services & Chief Risk Officer; Shilen Patel to Chief Business Development Officer at Cal Water."],"urls":{"canonical":"https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-067079","json":"https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-067079.json","markdown":"https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-067079.md","text":"https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-067079.txt","edgar_index":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","edgar_primary_document":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/tm2317589d1_8k.htm"},"model":{"generated_by":"deepseek-v4-flash:cloud@v2","generated_at":"2026-06-14T08:52:49.601997+00:00"},"review":{"review_status":"machine_generated","human_reviewed":false,"corrected":false,"correction_note":null,"correction_timestamp":null,"superseded_by":null,"related_filings":[]},"source_grounded_claims":[{"claim_id":"59e76de9a9","claim":"Thomas F. Smegal III retired as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP.","evidence_excerpt":"On May 26, 2023, Thomas F. Smegal III, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer notified the California Water Service Group (the “Company”) of his intention to retire from his position as Chief Financial Officer effective May 31, 2023.","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.02","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.95,"family_label":"Executive change","details":[{"label":"Action","value":"retired"},{"label":"Role","value":"Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer"}],"fact_type":"executive_change"},{"claim_id":"7a198fa654","claim":"Robert J. Kuta resigned as Vice President, Engineering & Chief Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Officer at CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP.","evidence_excerpt":"On May 26, 2023, Robert J. Kuta, Vice President, Engineering & Chief Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Officer notified the Company of his intention to leave the Company effective May 31, 2023 to pursue other opportunities that better suit the needs of his family.","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.02","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.9,"family_label":"Executive change","details":[{"label":"Action","value":"resigned"},{"label":"Role","value":"Vice President, Engineering & Chief Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Officer"}],"fact_type":"executive_change"},{"claim_id":"a6c9054a09","claim":"David B. Healey was appointed as Interim Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP.","evidence_excerpt":"On May 31, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) appointed David B. Healey, 66, to serve as Interim Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, while the Board evaluates candidates for the permanent position.","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.02","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.95,"family_label":"Executive change","details":[{"label":"Action","value":"appointed"},{"label":"Role","value":"Interim Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer"}],"fact_type":"executive_change"},{"claim_id":"14055ba3ce6446cd5962648c8a511d6a21800abd","claim":"CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP shareholders rejected Stockholder proposal requesting additional emissions reduction targets and reporting at the 2023-05-31 meeting.","evidence_excerpt":"The stockholder proposal requesting additional emissions reduction targets and reporting was not approved as follows: Votes For Votes Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 15,029,598 30,772,600 397,522 4,598,164","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.07","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.99,"family_label":"Shareholder Votes","details":[{"label":"Outcome","value":"failed"},{"label":"Meeting","value":"2023-05-31"}],"fact_type":"shareholder_vote"},{"claim_id":"637ef927b46d41b67ac95ee76d5c7a7ee774bb3c","claim":"CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP shareholders approved Ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2023 at the 2023-05-31 meeting.","evidence_excerpt":"The selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2023 was ratified as follows: Votes For Votes Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 50,247,940 421,681 128,263 -","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.07","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.99,"family_label":"Shareholder Votes","details":[{"label":"Proposal","value":"auditor ratification"},{"label":"Outcome","value":"passed"},{"label":"Meeting","value":"2023-05-31"}],"fact_type":"shareholder_vote"},{"claim_id":"73e63936fa810d78a8a57c15bf500fe0d085c21f","claim":"CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP shareholders approved Advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers at the 2023-05-31 meeting.","evidence_excerpt":"The advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers was as follows: Votes For 1 Year Votes For 2 Years Votes For 3 Years Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 44,322,870 147,449 1,630,702 98,699 4,598,164","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.07","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.99,"family_label":"Shareholder Votes","details":[{"label":"Proposal","value":"say on pay frequency"},{"label":"Outcome","value":"passed"},{"label":"Meeting","value":"2023-05-31"}],"fact_type":"shareholder_vote"},{"claim_id":"7f9672aa6b2a284cb4954b07953e1bafc77786e3","claim":"CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP shareholders approved Advisory vote on the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers at the 2023-05-31 meeting.","evidence_excerpt":"The advisory vote on the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers was approved as follows: Votes For Votes Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 44,409,824 1,596,800 193,096 4,598,164","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.07","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.99,"family_label":"Shareholder Votes","details":[{"label":"Proposal","value":"say on pay"},{"label":"Outcome","value":"passed"},{"label":"Meeting","value":"2023-05-31"}],"fact_type":"shareholder_vote"},{"claim_id":"9b8d806098a727913f1e77f3bf5cea53f38baf04","claim":"CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP shareholders approved Amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to reflect the new Delaware law provisions regarding officer exculpation at the 2023-05-31 meeting.","evidence_excerpt":"The amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to reflect the new Delaware law provisions regarding officer exculpation was approved as follows: Votes For Votes Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 37,462,740 8,555,956 181,024 4,598,164","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.07","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.99,"family_label":"Shareholder Votes","details":[{"label":"Proposal","value":"charter amendment"},{"label":"Outcome","value":"passed"},{"label":"Meeting","value":"2023-05-31"}],"fact_type":"shareholder_vote"},{"claim_id":"dfb10142431d6ca7fcae108cd9c4996f370683ad","claim":"CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP shareholders approved Election of Directors at the 2023-05-31 meeting.","evidence_excerpt":"The following nominees for Director were elected to serve until the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders based upon the following votes: Nominee Votes For Votes Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes Gregory E. Aliff 45,715,759 391,091 92,870 4,598,164 Shelly M. Esque 45,655,710 450,811 93,199 4,598,164 Martin A. Kropelnicki 45,221,050 900,186 78,484 4,598,164 Thomas M. Krummel, M.D. 44,323,613 1,785,064 91,043 4,598,164 Yvonne A. Maldonado, M.D. 45,647,073 471,212 81,435 4,598,164 Scott L. Morris 44,780,776 1,329,212 89,732 4,598,164 Carol M. Pottenger 45,634,141 475,817 89,762 4,598,164 Lester A. Snow 44,597,093 1,509,896 92,731 4,598,164 Patricia K. Wagner 45,955,751 159,791 84,178 4,598,164","evidence_source":"SEC 8-K Item 5.07","evidence_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923067079/0001104659-23-067079-index.htm","confidence":0.99,"family_label":"Shareholder Votes","details":[{"label":"Proposal","value":"director election"},{"label":"Outcome","value":"passed"},{"label":"Meeting","value":"2023-05-31"}],"fact_type":"shareholder_vote"}],"license":"Source filings: public domain (SEC EDGAR). Summaries (headline + bullets): CC-BY-4.0; attribute https://secwatch.observer"}