Sezzle Inc. 8-K

What Happened
Sezzle Inc. announced the appointment of Lee Brading as Chief Financial Officer, effective February 1, 2026. The Board approved Brading’s employment agreement on January 23, 2026; current CFO Karen Hartje will step down as CFO and principal financial officer on January 31, 2026 and will act as a consultant under a consulting agreement dated November 1, 2025. Brading has been with Sezzle since April 2020, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations.

Key Details

• Effective date: Lee Brading becomes CFO on February 1, 2026; Karen Hartje’s last day as CFO is January 31, 2026.
• Compensation: Brading’s base salary is $450,000 per year and target equity value of $2,000,000 in restricted stock units (RSUs).
• Equity vesting: RSUs vest over four years with a one-year cliff; after year one they vest in equal quarterly installments, subject to continued employment.
• Bonus & benefits: Target annual bonus equal to 50% of base salary (prorated for 2026); participation in existing benefit programs, profit-sharing incentive plan (PSIP), and the company’s equity incentive plan.
• Background & disclosures: Brading (age 58) joined Sezzle in April 2020; previously at Wells Fargo Securities and BDO Seidman; holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler and a BS from Washington & Lee; CFA designation and formerly a CPA (expired). No family relationships or related-party transactions requiring Item 404 disclosure were reported. Employment Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1; press release filed as Exhibit 99.1.

Why It Matters
A CFO change affects financial leadership, investor communications, and execution of finance-related strategy. Brading’s promotion is an internal appointment (continuity from his corporate development/IR role) with material compensation tied to equity vesting and performance pay, aligning his incentives with shareholders. For investors, watch for any updates to financial guidance, reporting cadence, or capital strategy under the new CFO; the filing itself did not disclose any transactions or contingencies beyond the employment and consulting arrangements.