---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001829126-25-006459"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "VIVK"
cik: "0001450704"
company_name: "Vivakor, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-08-18T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-17T11:52:42.662910+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Vivakor appoints Kimberly Hawley as CFO and Les Patterson as COO to strengthen leadership team

## Summary
- Patterson gets $375k base salary, $125k annual equity, and a $250k signing bonus in stock.
- Hawley, with 25+ years of finance experience, joins as EVP/CFO; no compensation terms disclosed.
- Prior COO resigned on August 6, 2025; Patterson replaces him effective August 12.
- Patterson has 30+ years in oil & gas, previously SVP at Bridger Logistics (Ferrellgas).
- Hawley to focus on financial discipline and SEC/GAAP reporting; Patterson on operational execution.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001829126-25-006459
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: VIVK
- cik: 0001450704
- company_name: Vivakor, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-08-18T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1450704/000182912625006459/0001829126-25-006459-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1450704/000182912625006459/vivakor_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001829126-25-006459
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001829126-25-006459.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001829126-25-006459.txt

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