---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001835256-23-000039"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001835256"
company_name: "Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-09-27T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-10T08:16:59.273362+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Duckhorn CEO Alex Ryan retires; board appoints Deirdre Mahlan as interim CEO

## Summary
- Alex Ryan retires as President, CEO, and Chairman effective Sept 27, 2023; receives $1,015,714 bonus and forfeits unvested equity.
- Board appoints Deirdre Mahlan, former Diageo North America President and current board member, as Interim CEO and Chairperson.
- Mahlan receives annual consulting fee of $655,000, 100% bonus target, and $1.35M in RSUs vesting over 12 months.
- Board forms ad hoc committee to search for a permanent CEO; independent director Michelle Gloeckler chairs committee.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001835256-23-000039
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001835256
- company_name: Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-09-27T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1835256/000183525623000039/0001835256-23-000039-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1835256/000183525623000039/napa-20230924.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001835256-23-000039
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001835256-23-000039.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001835256-23-000039.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Deirdre Mahlan was appointed as Interim President, Chief Executive Officer and chairperson at Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim President, Chief Executive Officer and chairperson
  source text: On September 27, 2023, the Board appointed Deirdre Mahlan, currently a director of the Company and chair of the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), as Interim President, Chief Executive Officer and chairperson of the Board, effective immediately upon Mr. Ryan’s retirement.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1835256/000183525623000039/0001835256-23-000039-index.htm
- Executive change
  Alex Ryan retired as President, Chief Executive Officer and chairperson at Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc..
  - Action: retired
  - Role: President, Chief Executive Officer and chairperson
  source text: On September 24, 2023, Alex Ryan notified The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (the “Company”) of his intention to retire from his positions as President, Chief Executive Officer and chairperson and member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company, effective September 27, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1835256/000183525623000039/0001835256-23-000039-index.htm

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