---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001564590-21-050247"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SMSI"
cik: "0000948708"
company_name: "SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC."
filed_at: "2021-10-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T22:48:11.684105+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Smith Micro appoints James Kempton as CFO effective Nov 3, 2021

## Summary
- Kempton joins from L.B. Foster (Controller); succeeds interim CFO Michael Fox.
- Annual base salary $275,000; target bonus of $100K + $40K cash; initial 20K vested shares grant.
- Fox's departure is not related to financial disclosures or accounting matters.
- Kempton also named Treasurer and principal financial/accounting officer.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001564590-21-050247
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SMSI
- cik: 0000948708
- company_name: SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC.
- filed_at: 2021-10-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/948708/000156459021050247/0001564590-21-050247-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/948708/000156459021050247/smsi-8k_20211004.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-050247
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-050247.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-050247.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  James M. Kempton was appointed as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On October 6, 2021, as described more fully below, Smith Micro Software, Inc. (the “Company”), announced that Mr. James M. Kempton has been appointed as the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective November 3, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/948708/000156459021050247/0001564590-21-050247-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael K. Fox departed as Interim Chief Financial Officer at SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC..
  - Action: stepped down
  - Role: Interim Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On such date, Mr. Michael K. Fox, who currently serves as the Company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer will step down from that role.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/948708/000156459021050247/0001564590-21-050247-index.htm

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