---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001262039-21-000024"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FTNT"
cik: "0001262039"
company_name: "Fortinet, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-10-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T22:30:18.843215+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Fortinet appoints Admiral James Stavridis to Board of Directors

## Summary
- Board size increased from 8 to 9; appointment effective Oct 22, 2021.
- Stavridis receives $55k annual cash retainer and $245k in pro-rated RSUs.
- Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, retired 4-star Admiral, cybersecurity expert.
- Currently Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Global Affairs of The Carlyle Group.
- Appointment adds public sector cybersecurity expertise to Fortinet's board.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001262039-21-000024
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FTNT
- cik: 0001262039
- company_name: Fortinet, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-10-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262039/000126203921000024/0001262039-21-000024-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262039/000126203921000024/ftnt-20211004.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001262039-21-000024
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001262039-21-000024.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001262039-21-000024.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  James Stavridis was appointed as director at Fortinet, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: director
  source text: filled the newly created vacancy on the Board by appointing Admiral James Stavridis to join the Board as a director, in each case, effective October 22, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1262039/000126203921000024/0001262039-21-000024-index.htm

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