---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-229392"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WATT"
cik: "0001575793"
company_name: "Energous Corp"
filed_at: "2021-07-29T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-30T01:00:23.092264+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Energous appoints acting CEO Cesar Johnston; CFO Brian Sereda to resign, acting CFO William Mannina

## Summary
- Cesar Johnston (COO/EVP Engineering) appointed Acting CEO effective July 23, 2021, following CEO Stephen Rizzone's retirement.
- CFO Brian Sereda to resign effective August 11, 2021; will continue as advisor.
- William Mannina (Controller/VP Finance) to serve as acting CFO upon Sereda's departure.
- Kathleen Bayless joins Board and audit committee; receives initial 37,091 RSUs vesting over three years.
- Office of the CEO disbanded; Neeraj Sahejpal remains SVP of Marketing and Business Development.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-229392
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WATT
- cik: 0001575793
- company_name: Energous Corp
- filed_at: 2021-07-29T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1575793/000119312521229392/0001193125-21-229392-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1575793/000119312521229392/d174843d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-229392
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-229392.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-229392.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Kathleen A. Bayless was appointed as Director at Energous Corp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: On July 23, 2021, Ms. Kathleen A. Bayless was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Energous Corporation (the “Company”) and as a member of the audit committee of the Board
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1575793/000119312521229392/0001193125-21-229392-index.htm
- Executive change
  William Mannina was appointed as Acting Chief Financial Officer at Energous Corp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Acting Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Mr. William Mannina, the Company’s controller and VP of Finance will serve as acting CFO upon Mr. Sereda’s departure.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1575793/000119312521229392/0001193125-21-229392-index.htm
- Executive change
  Brian Sereda resigned as Chief Financial Officer at Energous Corp.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On July 23, 2021, Mr. Brian Sereda notified the Board of his intention to resign from his position as the chief financial officer (“CFO”) of the Company effective as of August 11, 2021, after which he will continue to support the Company in an advisory capacity for a period of time.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1575793/000119312521229392/0001193125-21-229392-index.htm
- Executive change
  Cesar Johnston was appointed as Acting Chief Executive Officer at Energous Corp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Acting Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Effective as of July 23, 2021, Mr. Cesar Johnston, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering, was appointed as the Company’s Acting Chief Executive Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1575793/000119312521229392/0001193125-21-229392-index.htm

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