---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001819438-26-000003"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GWH"
cik: "0001819438"
company_name: "ESS Tech, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-01-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T11:33:12.036388+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# ESS Tech appoints Drew Buckley as CEO, names Goodman CSO/GC and Suhadolnik permanent CFO

## Summary
- Drew Buckley, former Head of Capital Markets Strategy, becomes CEO effective Jan 1, 2026; base salary $425K, annual target bonus up to 90%.
- Kelly Goodman transitions from Interim CEO to Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel, salary increased to $360K.
- Kate Suhadolnik, previously Interim CFO since Aug 2025, appointed permanent CFO with salary of $360K.
- Company indicates manufacturing and first Energy Base deliveries expected in 2026; plans investor/analyst day.
- Buckley spent 17 years at William Blair, most recently as Partner and sector leader for technology.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001819438-26-000003
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GWH
- cik: 0001819438
- company_name: ESS Tech, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-01-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1819438/000181943826000003/0001819438-26-000003-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1819438/000181943826000003/wk-20260101.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001819438-26-000003
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001819438-26-000003.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001819438-26-000003.txt

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