---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001552781-22-000583"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WTRG"
cik: "0000078128"
company_name: "Essential Utilities, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-10-17T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-23T03:26:28.917135+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# EVP & COO Richard Fox to retire Dec 1; Water/Gas VPs to report directly to CEO

## Summary
- EVP and COO Richard Fox retiring effective December 1, 2022.
- Water Operations VP Colleen Arnold and Gas Operations VP Michael Huwar to report directly to CEO Christopher H. Franklin.
- Board approved new organizational structure effective December 1, 2022.
- Arnold and Huwar will enter change-in-control agreements similar to other executive officers.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001552781-22-000583
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WTRG
- cik: 0000078128
- company_name: Essential Utilities, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-10-17T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/78128/000155278122000583/0001552781-22-000583-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/78128/000155278122000583/e22456_wtrg-8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001552781-22-000583
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001552781-22-000583.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001552781-22-000583.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Richard Fox departed as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Essential Utilities, Inc..
  - Action: retiring
  - Role: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
  source text: On October 17, 2022, Essential Utilities, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that Richard Fox, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is retiring effective December 1, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/78128/000155278122000583/0001552781-22-000583-index.htm

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