---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001490281-21-000128"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GRPN"
cik: "0001490281"
company_name: "Groupon, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-12-01T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T04:26:49.049840+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Groupon appoints Kedar Deshpande as CEO, effective Dec. 10, 2021

## Summary
- Kedar Deshpande, former Zappos CEO, appointed Groupon CEO and board member, effective Dec. 10.
- Aaron Cooper, interim CEO, steps down and will assist transition until at least Dec. 10.
- Deshpande receives $700k base salary, $1M sign-on cash bonus, and $16.5M in RSUs vesting quarterly over 3 years.
- Severance agreement includes 12 months salary and COBRA, accelerated equity vesting upon termination without cause or change in control.
- Dane Drobny, Chief Admin Officer, receives $1M cash retention bonus and $2.91M in RSUs vesting over 3 years.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001490281-21-000128
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GRPN
- cik: 0001490281
- company_name: Groupon, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-12-01T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1490281/000149028121000128/0001490281-21-000128-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1490281/000149028121000128/grpn-20211129.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001490281-21-000128
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001490281-21-000128.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001490281-21-000128.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Kedar Deshpande was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Groupon, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On December 1, 2021, Groupon, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that its Board of Directors appointed Kedar Deshpande as Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, effective December 10, 2021
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1490281/000149028121000128/0001490281-21-000128-index.htm
- Executive change
  Aaron Cooper departed as Interim Chief Executive Officer at Groupon, Inc..
  - Action: replaced
  - Role: Interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Mr. Deshpande will replace Aaron Cooper, who currently serves as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1490281/000149028121000128/0001490281-21-000128-index.htm

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