---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-23-259929"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001524741"
company_name: "U.S. SILICA HOLDINGS, INC."
filed_at: "2023-10-20T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-09T18:27:07.670914+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# U.S. Silica terminates CFO Don Merril, appoints Kevin Hough as interim CFO

## Summary
- CFO Donald A. Merril terminated without cause effective Oct 20, 2023; no disagreement on financial reporting.
- Interim CFO Kevin Hough, previously VP & Corporate Controller since 2011, plans to retire in 2024; permanent search underway.
- Hough's compensation: base salary $440k, target ABIP $375k prorated for 2023, sign-on cash $350k vesting May 1, 2024.
- Hough will participate in CIC severance plan and indemnification agreement.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-23-259929
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001524741
- company_name: U.S. SILICA HOLDINGS, INC.
- filed_at: 2023-10-20T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1524741/000119312523259929/0001193125-23-259929-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1524741/000119312523259929/d563318d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-259929
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-259929.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-259929.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Kevin Hough was appointed as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer at U.S. SILICA HOLDINGS, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
  source text: On October 18, 2023, Kevin Hough was appointed, effective October 20, 2023, to serve as interim Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1524741/000119312523259929/0001193125-23-259929-index.htm
- Executive change
  Donald A. Merril departed as Chief Financial Officer at U.S. SILICA HOLDINGS, INC..
  - Action: terminated without cause
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: succeeding Donald A. Merril, who was terminated without cause effective as of October 20, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1524741/000119312523259929/0001193125-23-259929-index.htm

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