---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-350816"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AWK"
cik: "0001410636"
company_name: "American Water Works Company, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-12-08T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T02:46:57.412633+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# American Water CEO Walter Lynch hospitalized; CFO Susan Hardwick appointed Interim CEO

## Summary
- CEO Walter Lynch hospitalized with an injury; he is recovering.
- Board appointed EVP/CFO Susan Hardwick as Interim CEO effective December 7, 2021.
- Hardwick retains CFO role and principal financial officer duties; no compensation change.
- Lynch remains on the Board and as an executive officer of the Company.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-350816
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AWK
- cik: 0001410636
- company_name: American Water Works Company, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-12-08T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1410636/000119312521350816/0001193125-21-350816-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1410636/000119312521350816/d242584d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-350816
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-350816.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-350816.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  M. Susan Hardwick was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer at American Water Works Company, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On December 7, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) executed its business continuity plan and appointed M. Susan Hardwick, 59, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, to the office of Interim Chief Executive Officer in addition to her current officer role.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1410636/000119312521350816/0001193125-21-350816-index.htm

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