---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001627475-26-000042"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "UPWK"
cik: "0001627475"
company_name: "UPWORK, INC"
filed_at: "2026-07-16T20:22:31+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-07-16T20:23:04.435050+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Upwork CFO Erica Gessert takes temporary medical leave; CEO Hayden Brown assumes interim CFO role

## Summary
- CFO Erica Gessert on temporary medical leave effective July 14, 2026; expected return in Q4 2026.
- CEO Hayden Brown appointed interim principal financial officer during leave; no additional compensation.
- No arrangement or family relationships with other directors/officers; no material interest in transactions.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001627475-26-000042
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: UPWK
- cik: 0001627475
- company_name: UPWORK, INC
- filed_at: 2026-07-16T20:22:31+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1627475/000162747526000042/0001627475-26-000042-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1627475/000162747526000042/upwork-20260714.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001627475-26-000042
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001627475-26-000042.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001627475-26-000042.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Hayden Brown was appointed as interim principal financial officer at UPWORK, INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: interim principal financial officer
  source text: During Ms. Gessert’s leave, Hayden Brown, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, will assume the role of the Company’s interim principal financial officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1627475/000162747526000042/0001627475-26-000042-index.htm
- Executive change
  Erica Gessert departed as Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer at UPWORK, INC.
  - Action: took medical leave
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer
  source text: Effective July 14, 2026, Upwork Inc.’s, or the Company’s, Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer, Erica Gessert, will take a temporary medical leave.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1627475/000162747526000042/0001627475-26-000042-index.htm

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