---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-22-011220"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "RMCF"
cik: "0001616262"
company_name: "Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-05-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-25T23:01:01.671601+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory names Robert Sarlls as CEO effective May 9, 2022

## Summary
- New CEO Robert Sarlls appointed effective May 9; outgoing CEO Bryan Merryman remains as CFO until July 2022; company searching for new CFO.
- Sarlls previously CEO of Wyandot, Inc. and has 25+ years in food industry; appointed to board; not independent.
- Compensation includes $360k salary, 50% target bonus, $165k signing bonus, and $360k equity grant with performance vesting.
- Board expanded from 6 to 7 directors to accommodate Sarlls.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-22-011220
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: RMCF
- cik: 0001616262
- company_name: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-05-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1616262/000143774922011220/0001437749-22-011220-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1616262/000143774922011220/rmcfd20220505_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-22-011220
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-22-011220.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-22-011220.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Bryan J. Merryman retired as Chief Financial Officer at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc..
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Mr. Merryman gave notice of his retirement from his positions with the Company, effective in July 2022 after the filing of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended May 31, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1616262/000143774922011220/0001437749-22-011220-index.htm
- Executive change
  Robert J. Sarlls was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On May 5, 2022, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Robert J. Sarlls as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as a member of the Board, effective May 9, 2022 (the “Start Date”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1616262/000143774922011220/0001437749-22-011220-index.htm
- Executive change
  Bryan J. Merryman retired as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc..
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Mr. Sarlls succeeds Bryan J. Merryman in his role as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1616262/000143774922011220/0001437749-22-011220-index.htm
- Executive change
  Robert J. Sarlls was appointed as Director at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: appointed Robert J. Sarlls as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as a member of the Board
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1616262/000143774922011220/0001437749-22-011220-index.htm

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