---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001213900-25-015309"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BGC"
cik: "0001094831"
company_name: "BGC Group, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-02-19T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-26T10:28:19.550769+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Howard Lutnick steps down as CEO/Chairman; co-CEOs Abularrage, Aubin, Windeatt appointed

## Summary
- Howard Lutnick confirmed as 41st US Secretary of Commerce; resigned as BGC Chairman and CEO effective Feb 18, 2025.
- Brandon Lutnick (27) appointed to Board; son of Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, no board committee role.
- Stephen Merkel (EVP/GC) appointed to Board and as Board Chairman; will continue as EVP and General Counsel.
- John Abularrage, JP Aubin, and Sean Windeatt appointed Co-CEOs; each retains prior operational roles (Americas, EMEA, COO).
- Abularrage gets $750K salary + $2.5M bonus, term through 2034; Aubin gets €705K salary, term through 2029; Windeatt's partnership extended to 2034.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001213900-25-015309
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BGC
- cik: 0001094831
- company_name: BGC Group, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-02-19T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025015309/0001213900-25-015309-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025015309/ea0231344-8k_bgc.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001213900-25-015309
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001213900-25-015309.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001213900-25-015309.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Stephen Merkel was appointed as Board of Directors at BGC Group, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Board of Directors
  source text: the Board appointed Stephen Merkel, our Executive Vice President and General Counsel, to serve as a member of the Board, effective February 18, 2025
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025015309/0001213900-25-015309-index.htm
- Executive change
  Brandon Lutnick was appointed as Board of Directors at BGC Group, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Board of Directors
  source text: the Board appointed Brandon Lutnick to serve as a member of the Board, effective February 18, 2025
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025015309/0001213900-25-015309-index.htm
- Executive change
  Howard Lutnick departed as Chairman of the Board at BGC Group, Inc..
  - Action: stepped down
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: Howard Lutnick, Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and Chief Executive Officer of BGC Group, Inc. (“BGC” or the “Company”), informed the Company that he has stepped down as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective February 18, 2025
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025015309/0001213900-25-015309-index.htm
- Executive change
  Stephen Merkel was appointed as Chairman of the Board at BGC Group, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: the Board appointed Mr. Merkel to serve as Chairman of the Board
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025015309/0001213900-25-015309-index.htm
- Executive change
  Howard Lutnick departed as Chief Executive Officer at BGC Group, Inc..
  - Action: stepped down
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Howard Lutnick, Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and Chief Executive Officer of BGC Group, Inc. (“BGC” or the “Company”), informed the Company that he has stepped down as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective February 18, 2025
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1094831/000121390025015309/0001213900-25-015309-index.htm

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