---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-22-044972"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GWH"
cik: "0001819438"
company_name: "ESS Tech, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-02-17T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-27T07:07:44.930176+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.3
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.3
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# ESS Tech appoints Claudia Gast to board; Shirley Speakman resigns

## Summary
- Shirley Speakman resigned effective Feb 17, 2022 to focus on early-stage investing; no disagreement.
- Claudia Gast appointed as director effective Feb 17, 2022, and named to Audit Committee.
- Gast brings 15+ years M&A/finance experience; currently CFO/Board member of GTAC.
- Speakman served on board since 2017, most recently on Audit Committee.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-22-044972
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GWH
- cik: 0001819438
- company_name: ESS Tech, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-02-17T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.3
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.3
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1819438/000119312522044972/0001193125-22-044972-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1819438/000119312522044972/d37298d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-044972
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-044972.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-044972.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Claudia Gast was appointed as Director at ESS Tech, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: On February 16, 2022, the Board appointed Claudia Gast as a director of the Company, effective February 17, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1819438/000119312522044972/0001193125-22-044972-index.htm
- Executive change
  Shirley Speakman resigned as Director at ESS Tech, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: On February 14, 2022, Shirley Speakman notified ESS Tech, Inc. (the “Company”) that, effective February 17, 2022, she is resigning from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) to focus her time on early stage company investing.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1819438/000119312522044972/0001193125-22-044972-index.htm

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