---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-23-024709"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001705338"
company_name: "Spark Networks SE"
filed_at: "2023-07-11T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-13T10:07:28.729187+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Spark Networks CEO Grayson resigns with $600K severance; Board Chair Brown becomes interim CEO

## Summary
- CEO Chelsea Grayson resigned Jul 7; receives $600K severance, $25K advisory fees, COBRA.
- Board Chair Colleen Birdnow Brown appointed interim CEO; former CEO of Fisher Communications.
- Company completed strategic alternatives review; new transformation plan targets growth, margins, EBITDA, cash flow.
- Plan: partner with performance marketing agency, transfer operations to MSPs, invest in product features.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-23-024709
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001705338
- company_name: Spark Networks SE
- filed_at: 2023-07-11T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1705338/000162828023024709/0001628280-23-024709-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1705338/000162828023024709/lov-20230707.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-024709
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-024709.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-23-024709.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Colleen Birdnow Brown was appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer at Spark Networks SE.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Colleen Birdnow Brown, the Chair of the Board, was appointed by the Board as interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Spark Networks, Inc. effective July 7, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1705338/000162828023024709/0001628280-23-024709-index.htm
- Executive change
  Chelsea A. Grayson resigned as Chief Executive Officer at Spark Networks SE.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On July 7, 2023, the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Spark Networks SE (the “Company”) and Chelsea A. Grayson determined that Ms. Grayson resigned as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Spark Networks, Inc., and terminated her service and employment with the Company and Spark Networks, Inc. effective July 7, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1705338/000162828023024709/0001628280-23-024709-index.htm

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