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  4. [8-K] A.K.A. BRANDS HOLDING CORP. Reports Material Event

a. Brands Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKA) appoints Carrie Cassidy to board

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Filing Sentiment
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Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

a. Brands Holding Corp. reported that director Ilene Eskenazi resigned from the Board and its Compensation Committee effective August 3, 2026; her resignation was explicitly stated as not due to any disagreement with the company. The Board appointed Carrie Cassidy as a Class I director and Compensation Committee member effective the same date, with a term lasting until the 2028 annual meeting or until a successor is elected and qualified. She is considered independent under SEC and NYSE rules and was nominated under a Director Nomination Agreement with funds affiliated with Summit Partners. For her service, Cassidy will receive a $50,000 annual cash retainer, an additional $10,000 for Compensation Committee service, and an inducement grant of 2,778 restricted stock units vesting over one year, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses and the company’s standard indemnification agreement.

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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Annual board cash retainer $50,000 Annual cash retainer for Carrie Cassidy’s service on the Board, payable in twelve monthly installments
Compensation Committee cash $10,000 Additional annual cash compensation for Carrie Cassidy’s Compensation Committee service
Inducement RSU grant 2,778 restricted stock units Equity inducement for Carrie Cassidy, subject to a one-year vesting period
Director term end 2028 annual meeting of stockholders End of Carrie Cassidy’s Class I director term unless a successor is elected earlier
Compensation Committee financial
"resigned as a member of the Board of Directors ... and the Compensation Committee"
A compensation committee is a group within a company's leadership responsible for setting and reviewing how much top executives and employees are paid, including salaries, bonuses, and benefits. It matters to investors because fair and effective pay decisions can influence a company's performance, leadership motivation, and overall governance, helping ensure that the company’s management is aligned with shareholders’ interests.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regulatory
"Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board"
A nominating and corporate governance committee is a group within a company's board of directors responsible for selecting and recommending individuals to serve as company leaders, such as directors or executives. They also develop and oversee policies to ensure the company is run fairly, ethically, and transparently. This committee matters to investors because it helps ensure the company is well-managed and guided by qualified, responsible leadership.
Director Nomination Agreement regulatory
"Ms. Cassidy was nominated as a director pursuant to the Director Nomination Agreement"
restricted stock units financial
"an inducement grant of 2,778 restricted stock units, subject to a one year vesting period"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
indemnification agreement regulatory
"The Company entered into its standard form of indemnification agreement with Ms. Cassidy"
An indemnification agreement is a contract in which one party promises to cover losses, costs, or legal claims that another party might face, acting like a tailored safety net or private insurance policy. For investors, it matters because such agreements shift potential financial risk away from a company or its officers and onto the indemnifier, which can affect a company’s future liabilities, cash flow and how risky the investment appears during deal-making or litigation.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What board change did a. Brands Holding Corp. (AKA) disclose?
a. Brands Holding Corp. announced that Ilene Eskenazi resigned from its Board and Compensation Committee effective August 3, 2026. The company stated her resignation was not due to any disagreement with the company and thanked her for her years of service.

Who is the new director appointed to a. Brands Holding Corp. (AKA)?
The Board appointed Carrie Cassidy as a Class I director and Compensation Committee member effective August 3, 2026. She is deemed independent under SEC and NYSE rules and brings leadership experience from prior roles at RH, Levi Strauss & Co., Barclays and others.

What is Carrie Cassidy’s term as a director at a. Brands Holding (AKA)?
Carrie Cassidy will serve as a Class I director until a. Brands Holding Corp.’s 2028 annual meeting of stockholders, or until her successor has been duly elected and qualified. This aligns her term with the company’s classified board structure.

How will new director Carrie Cassidy be compensated by a. Brands Holding (AKA)?
Carrie Cassidy will receive an annual cash retainer of $50,000, plus $10,000 in additional cash compensation for Compensation Committee service. She will also receive an inducement grant of 2,778 restricted stock units with a one-year vesting period and expense reimbursement.

Was there any disagreement behind Ilene Eskenazi’s resignation from a. Brands Holding (AKA)?
The company explicitly stated that Ilene Eskenazi’s resignation from the Board and Compensation Committee was not the result of any disagreement with a. Brands Holding Corp. The disclosure characterizes the departure as amicable.

How was Carrie Cassidy nominated to the a. Brands Holding (AKA) board?
Carrie Cassidy was nominated pursuant to a Director Nomination Agreement dated September 24, 2021, between a. Brands Holding Corp. and funds affiliated with Summit Partners. The filing states there are no other arrangements or related person transactions involving her.
0001865107false00018651072026-07-302026-07-30

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
  
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 30, 2026
 
a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
  
Delaware001-4082887-0970919
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
100 Montgomery Street, Suite 2270
San Francisco, California 94104
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
415-295-6085
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):
☐    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class:Trading Symbol(s):Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per shareAKANew York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒


Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(a)
On July 30, 2026, Ilene Eskenazi resigned as a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) of a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. (the “Company”), effective August 3, 2026. Ms. Eskenazi’s resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the Company. The Company would like to thank Ms. Eskenazi for her many years of service.
(b)
Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of the Company appointed Carrie Cassidy to the Board and to the Compensation Committee, effective August 3, 2026.
Since January 2022, Ms. Cassidy has served as Principal of Cassidy Human Capital, an advisory and consulting practice focused on helping consumer, retail, technology and growth-stage businesses strengthen leadership capabilities, scale operations and drive organizational performance. Ms. Cassidy currently serves on the board of directors of Thuma Inc., a direct-to-consumer home furnishings company, and on the board of directors and the compensation committee of G.L. Mezzetta, Inc., a specialty consumer packaged goods company. From September 2014 to July 2021, Ms. Cassidy served as Chief People Officer of RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) (NYSE: RH), a leading retailer and luxury lifestyle brand operating primarily in the home furnishings market, where she was responsible for RH’s global human resources strategy, executive compensation, leadership development, succession planning, organizational design, talent acquisition, employee engagement, cultural initiatives and workforce strategy. Prior to RH, Ms. Cassidy held senior executive leadership positions with Levi Strauss & Co., Barclays PLC, First Data Corporation and Gateway Computers. Ms. Cassidy holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from Oregon State University.
Ms. Cassidy will serve as a Class I director until the Company’s 2028 annual meeting of stockholders or until her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Ms. Cassidy is deemed to be independent in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the New York Stock Exchange.
Ms. Cassidy was nominated as a director pursuant to the Director Nomination Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2021, by and among the Company and funds affiliated with Summit Partners, which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 27, 2021. There are no other arrangements or understandings between Ms. Cassidy and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Cassidy was selected as a director of the Company. There are no related person transactions (within the meaning of Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC) between Ms. Cassidy and the Company. In connection with Ms. Cassidy’s service as a member of the Board, she will receive an annual cash retainer of $50,000, payable in twelve monthly equal installments, an inducement grant of 2,778 restricted stock units, subject to a one year vesting period, and additional cash compensation in the amount of $10,000 for Compensation Committee service. Ms. Cassidy will be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred to attend meetings of the Board or committees thereof or otherwise performing duties consistent with service on the Board in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy. The Company entered into its standard form of indemnification agreement with Ms. Cassidy. The form of indemnification agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-259028), originally filed with the SEC on August 24, 2021, as amended.
1

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp.
Date: August 4, 2026By:/s/ Kevin Grant
Name:Kevin Grant
Title:Chief Financial Officer
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Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

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