QUANTUM CORP /DE/ 8-K

What Happened

• Quantum Corporation announced on February 2, 2026 that William H. White (age 44) has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer, effective February 2, 2026.
• Mr. White’s offer letter provides a $375,000 annual base salary and a target annual bonus equal to 50% of base pay. He will receive equity awards as a new-hire inducement and has signed the company’s standard change-of-control and indemnification agreements.

Key Details

• Base salary: $375,000 per year; target bonus: 50% of base salary.
• New-hire equity: 25,000 time‑based RSUs vesting in three equal annual installments, plus 25,000 performance-based RSUs that vest upon Committee-approved performance metrics. Grants expected effective March 2, 2026 under the 2021 Inducement Plan.
• Severance (Change of Control Period): if involuntarily terminated during the defined period, Mr. White would receive (a) 12 months’ base salary + 100% of target bonus, (b) 100% accelerated vesting of time‑vested equity, and (c) 12 months’ COBRA premium payment.
• Severance (outside Change of Control Period): if involuntarily terminated, he would receive 6 months’ base salary and reimbursement of COBRA premiums for six months, subject to a release of claims.
• Background: roles at Emotive (including CFO, 2024–2025), VUCA Strategies (Fractional CFO), Human AI Labs, Affordify, and Goldbum Lentz & Co.; MBA (University of Denver), B.A. (University of Colorado Boulder).

Why It Matters

• This is a leadership change in Quantum’s finance team: investors should note the new CFO’s compensation and equity structure, which ties pay to company and individual performance through time‑based and performance RSUs.
• The change‑of‑control and severance provisions outline potential cash and equity costs the company could incur in certain exit scenarios.
• The filing is procedural but material for governance and executive oversight; investors tracking management stability, executive incentives, or potential restructuring should consider this appointment alongside future financial reports and guidance.