---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-24-015471"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GNPX"
cik: "0001595248"
company_name: "Genprex, Inc."
filed_at: "2024-05-09T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-02T06:02:50.288588+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Genprex CEO Rodney Varner dies; CFO Ryan Confer appointed CEO and Board member

## Summary
- CEO/President/Chairman Rodney Varner passed away unexpectedly on May 7, 2024 due to illness complications.
- Ryan Confer, CFO since 2016, appointed President and CEO effective May 8, 2024; also named to Board as Class III director.
- Confer will continue as CFO until a permanent CFO is identified; Board has started a search.
- Compensation Committee plans to review Confer's compensation in light of new responsibilities.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-24-015471
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GNPX
- cik: 0001595248
- company_name: Genprex, Inc.
- filed_at: 2024-05-09T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- 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/1595248/000143774924015471/0001437749-24-015471-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1595248/000143774924015471/gnpx20240508_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-015471
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-015471.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-24-015471.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Ryan Confer was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at Genprex, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board appointed Ryan Confer, Chief Financial Officer of Genprex since 2016, to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Genprex (in addition to his position as Chief Financial Officer of Genprex), effective immediately
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1595248/000143774924015471/0001437749-24-015471-index.htm
- Executive change
  Ryan Confer was appointed as Class III director at Genprex, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Class III director
  source text: On May 8, 2024, Mr. Confer was also appointed to the Board as a Class III director to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Varner’s passing
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1595248/000143774924015471/0001437749-24-015471-index.htm
- Executive change
  Rodney Varner departed as President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Genprex, Inc..
  - Action: passed away
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
  source text: Rodney Varner, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), passed away unexpectedly on May 7, 2024 due to complications from an ongoing illness.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1595248/000143774924015471/0001437749-24-015471-index.htm

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