---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-21-014824"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WKHS"
cik: "0001425287"
company_name: "Workhorse Group Inc."
filed_at: "2021-07-29T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-30T00:55:30.227517+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Workhorse appoints Richard Dauch as CEO; prior CEO Duane Hughes departs; guidance withdrawn

## Summary
- Richard Dauch becomes CEO and board member effective Aug 2, 2021; previously CEO of Delphi Technologies.
- Duane Hughes departs as CEO and board member; receives $855,000 severance and transitional role through Sep 30.
- Company withdraws previously stated guidance effective immediately; no replacement guidance provided.
- Dauch receives $1M base salary, 500k restricted shares + $3M stock options as signing bonus, target annual bonus 125% of base.
- Long-term equity incentive target set at 500% of base salary; severance includes up to 3x base + bonus upon change of control.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-21-014824
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WKHS
- cik: 0001425287
- company_name: Workhorse Group Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-07-29T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1425287/000162828021014824/0001628280-21-014824-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1425287/000162828021014824/wkhs-20210726.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-21-014824
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-21-014824.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-21-014824.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Duane Hughes resigned as Chief Executive Officer at Workhorse Group Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On July 26, 2021, the Company and Duane Hughes mutually agreed that Mr. Hughes would no longer continue as a member of the Board of Directors and as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, effective August 2, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1425287/000162828021014824/0001628280-21-014824-index.htm
- Executive change
  Richard Dauch was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Workhorse Group Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On July 25, 2021, Workhorse Group Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an Employment Agreement with Richard Dauch, pursuant to which he will become Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Employment Agreement”), effective August 2, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1425287/000162828021014824/0001628280-21-014824-index.htm

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