---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-357483"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CRNC"
cik: "0001768267"
company_name: "Cerence Inc."
filed_at: "2021-12-15T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T00:56:52.535983+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Cerence appoints Stefan Ortmanns as CEO, succeeding Sanjay Dhawan

## Summary
- Stefan Ortmanns appointed CEO and director, effective immediately; Sanjay Dhawan resigned.
- Ortmanns previously EVP Core Products, responsible for >80% of company revenue.
- Base salary EUR 530,000; target LTI award $5M; sign-on bonus EUR 200,000.
- Dhawan provides transition assistance; confidentiality and release agreement.
- Company expects Q1 fiscal 2022 results within prior guidance range.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-357483
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CRNC
- cik: 0001768267
- company_name: Cerence Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-12-15T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1768267/000119312521357483/0001193125-21-357483-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1768267/000119312521357483/d195671d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-357483
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-357483.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-357483.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Sanjay Dhawan resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer and director at Cerence Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer and director
  source text: Sanjay Dhawan, who resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company on December 14, 2021, effective December 15, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1768267/000119312521357483/0001193125-21-357483-index.htm
- Executive change
  Stefan Ortmanns was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at Cerence Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: unanimously appointed Stefan Ortmanns as President and Chief Executive Officer
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1768267/000119312521357483/0001193125-21-357483-index.htm
- Executive change
  Stefan Ortmanns was elected as Class III director at Cerence Inc..
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Class III director
  source text: the Board elected Dr. Ortmanns as a Class III director
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1768267/000119312521357483/0001193125-21-357483-index.htm

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