---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001493152-26-043115"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "OPTT"
cik: "0001378140"
company_name: "Ocean Power Technologies, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-09-17T20:05:29+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-09-17T20:08:17.429722+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# OPT appoints Tracy Pagliara as Acting CEO; Jason Weed as COO; Dr. Stratmann steps down

## Summary
- Tracy Pagliara becomes Acting President & CEO and director, effective Sept 14, 2026; salary up to $400k, 75% bonus target, 75k RSUs.
- Jason Weed appointed COO; salary up to $400k, 75% bonus target, 50k RSUs; previously SVP Commercial Sales.
- Dr. Philipp Stratmann steps down as CEO/President and director by mutual agreement; gets 6 months salary + FY2026 bonus balance + health benefits through Sept 30, 2026.
- New employment agreements replace prior letters; Stratmann's June 2021 letter terminated; Pagliara's Jan 2025 letter terminated.
- Leadership changes aim to accelerate commercial execution and backlog conversion; company stays focused on maritime autonomy and MDA strategy.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001493152-26-043115
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: OPTT
- cik: 0001378140
- company_name: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-09-17T20:05:29+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 5.02, 1.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1378140/000149315226043115/0001493152-26-043115-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1378140/000149315226043115/form8-k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001493152-26-043115
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001493152-26-043115.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001493152-26-043115.txt

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