---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-23-169677"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "HHS"
cik: "0000045919"
company_name: "HARTE HANKS INC"
filed_at: "2023-06-20T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-13T21:58:24.101306+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Harte Hanks appoints Kirk Davis as CEO, replacing Brian Linscott effective June 19, 2023

## Summary
- Brian Linscott departed June 16, 2023; separation provides 18 months base salary and COBRA reimbursement.
- Kirk Davis, former CEO of Metro Corp. and GateHouse Media, appointed CEO and nominated to Board effective June 19.
- Davis receives $450,000 base salary, target bonus 100% of salary, $50,000 sign-on bonus, and 240,000 stock options.
- Company reaffirms expectation of sequential EBITDA improvement in Q2 2023.
- Inducement stock option award granted under NASDAQ exemption; vests over three years.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-23-169677
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: HHS
- cik: 0000045919
- company_name: HARTE HANKS INC
- filed_at: 2023-06-20T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/45919/000119312523169677/0001193125-23-169677-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/45919/000119312523169677/d515780d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-169677
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-169677.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-169677.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Brian Linscott departed as Chief Executive Officer at HARTE HANKS INC.
  - Action: departed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Brian Linscott departing the Company as of June 16, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/45919/000119312523169677/0001193125-23-169677-index.htm
- Executive change
  Kirk Davis was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at HARTE HANKS INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: appointing Kirk Davis as Chief Executive Officer and nominating Mr. Davis to the Board, effective as of June 19, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/45919/000119312523169677/0001193125-23-169677-index.htm

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