---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001641172-25-020350"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BENF"
cik: "0001775734"
company_name: "Beneficient"
filed_at: "2025-07-21T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-18T05:13:46.240382+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Beneficient appoints James Silk as interim CEO, Thomas Hicks as Chairman

## Summary
- James G. Silk appointed interim CEO effective July 20, 2025; base salary $750,000, eligible for equity awards.
- Thomas O. Hicks named Chairman of the Board, separating roles from CEO.
- Silk is former EVP and Chief Legal Officer (Jan 2020-May 2024), previously partner at Willkie Farr.
- Silk succeeds Brad Heppner, who resigned as CEO and Chairman on June 19, 2025.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001641172-25-020350
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BENF
- cik: 0001775734
- company_name: Beneficient
- filed_at: 2025-07-21T23:59:59+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/1775734/000164117225020350/0001641172-25-020350-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1775734/000164117225020350/form8-k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001641172-25-020350
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001641172-25-020350.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001641172-25-020350.txt

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