Delek US (DK) taps Amber Russell as Executive VP, Refining in leadership shift
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Delek US Holdings, Inc. announced a leadership transition in its refining operations. Effective April 20, 2026, the company appointed Amber Russell as Executive Vice President, Refining, where she will lead refining operations and focus on operational excellence, safety, and strategic growth.
On the same date, Joseph Israel departed from his role as Executive Vice President, Refining and Renewables, and as an executive officer of Delek Logistics Partners, LP. Under a separation agreement, he will receive benefits outlined in his previously disclosed executive employment agreement, and the company will pay COBRA medical coverage costs for eighteen months. A related press release was furnished under Regulation FD.
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Insights
Delek executes a planned refining leadership handoff with standard severance terms.
Delek US Holdings is reshaping leadership of its refining operations by appointing Amber Russell as Executive Vice President, Refining, while Joseph Israel departs parallel roles at the company and Delek Logistics Partners. The filing frames this as a leadership transition rather than a broader strategic overhaul.
Russell brings nearly three decades of global energy experience, including senior roles at ExxonMobil and bp, where she oversaw refining, terminals, pipelines, and integrated operations. This background aligns closely with Delek’s asset base and suggests continuity in operational focus on safety and efficiency.
Israel’s exit is governed by a separation agreement referencing pre-existing employment terms and eighteen months of COBRA premium coverage, indicating a negotiated, orderly departure. A press release furnished under Regulation FD underscores that this is primarily an organizational update, with no new financial guidance or quantified impact disclosed in this content.
8-K Event Classification
3 items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
3 items
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.
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Effective date of new EVP Refining: April 20, 2026
COBRA coverage period: 18 months
Press release exhibit number: 99.1
3 metrics
Effective date of new EVP Refining
April 20, 2026
Appointment date of Amber Russell as Executive Vice President, Refining
COBRA coverage period
18 months
Duration of company-paid group medical continuation coverage for Joseph Israel
Press release exhibit number
99.1
Exhibit number for leadership transition press release furnished with the report
Key Terms
Regulation FD, COBRA, separation agreement, Executive Employment Agreement, +1 more
5 terms
Regulation FD regulatory
"The information in this Item 7.01 is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Regulation FD."
Regulation FD is a rule that prevents company insiders, like executives, from sharing important information with some people before others get it. It matters because it helps ensure all investors have equal access to key news, making the stock market fairer and reducing chances of insider trading.
COBRA regulatory
"The Company also agreed to pay the cost of group medical continuation coverage under COBRA for eighteen months"
COBRA is a U.S. federal law that lets employees and their dependents temporarily keep employer-sponsored health insurance after job loss, reduction in hours, or other qualifying events by paying the premiums themselves. Investors should care because offering COBRA can affect a company’s cash flow, administrative costs and legal disclosures when workforce changes occur—similar to a former club member paying to keep their membership active after leaving the club.
separation agreement financial
"the Company entered into a separation agreement with Mr. Israel, pursuant to which Mr. Israel will receive the separation benefits"
A separation agreement is a written contract that spells out the financial and legal terms when an employee and a company part ways, such as final pay, severance, continued benefits, confidentiality, and any release of claims. For investors, it matters because these agreements determine immediate costs, potential future liabilities, and whether departing staff are restricted from competing or disclosing information—factors that can affect a company’s cash flow, risk profile, and leadership continuity.
Executive Employment Agreement financial
"benefits to which he is entitled under Section 10(c) of his Executive Employment Agreement dated March 27, 2023"
non-disparagement regulatory
"The separation agreement contains customary general release of claims and non-disparagement provisions."
A non-disparagement provision is a promise in an agreement that one party will not make negative public statements about the other, like a vow to avoid “badmouthing” a business or its leaders. Investors care because such promises protect reputation and can limit public criticism that might affect a company’s stock price, signal unresolved disputes, or introduce legal risk if enforcement leads to further costs or constrained disclosure.
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)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(Address of Principal Executive) | (Zip Code) | |||||||||||||||||||
(615 ) 771-6701
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, 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:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
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.
On April 16, 2026, the Board of Directors of Delek US Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) approved a leadership transition for the Company’s refining operations. Effective April 20, 2026, the Company appointed Amber Russell as Executive Vice President, Refining. Also effective April 20, 2026, Joseph Israel departed from his position as Executive Vice President, Refining and Renewables, and from his position as an executive officer of Delek Logistics Partners, LP.
Ms. Russell brings nearly three decades of energy industry experience to the role, having most recently served as Senior Vice President for bp Solutions. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Refining, Terminals, and Pipelines at bp for more than five years. Earlier in her career, Ms. Russell held leadership positions at ExxonMobil.
In connection with Mr. Israel’s departure, the Company entered into a separation agreement with Mr. Israel, pursuant to which Mr. Israel will receive the separation benefits to which he is entitled under Section 10(c) of his Executive Employment Agreement dated March 27, 2023, as amended November 6, 2024, which has been previously disclosed. The Company also agreed to pay the cost of group medical continuation coverage under COBRA for eighteen months following the separation date. The separation agreement contains customary general release of claims and non-disparagement provisions.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On April 20, 2026, the Company issued a press release regarding the leadership transition, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
The information in this Item 7.01 is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Regulation FD. Accordingly, the information in Item 7.01 of this report will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference. The furnishing of the information in this report is not intended to, and does not, constitute a determination or admission by the Company that the information in this report is material or complete, or that investors should consider this information before making an investment decision with respect to any security of the Company or any of its affiliates.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| (d) | Exhibits. | |||||||
99.1 | Press Release of Delek US Holdings, Inc. issued on April 20, 2026. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | |||||||
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.
Dated: April 20, 2026 | DELEK US HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||
/s/ Mark Hobbs | |||||
Name: Mark Hobbs | |||||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||
Dated: April 20, 2026 | DELEK LOGISTICS PARTNERS, LP | ||||
By: Delek Logistics GP, LLC | |||||
its general partner | |||||
/s/ Robert Wright | |||||
Name: Robert Wright | |||||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||
Exhibit 99.1
Delek US Holdings Announces Refining Leadership Transition
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., April 20, 2026 - Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DK) today announced the appointment of Amber Russell as Executive Vice President, Refining, effective April 20, 2026. In this role, Ms. Russell will lead the company’s refining operations, with a focus on advancing operational excellence, safety performance, and strategic growth across Delek’s refining system.
Ms. Russell has nearly three decades of global energy industry experience, including senior leadership roles at ExxonMobil and bp. She has demonstrated extensive leadership across several industry verticals such as refining, terminals, pipelines, and integrated operations. She most recently served as Senior Vice President for bp Solutions, where she led a centralized organization focused on addressing bp’s most critical risks and opportunities across oil and gas, refining, terminals, and pipelines. Prior to that, Ms. Russell served as Senior Vice President of Refining, Terminals, and Pipelines for more than five years at bp, where she shaped downstream strategy and led a global refining organization spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
“I want to extend my appreciation to Joseph Israel for his dedication and contributions to Delek, including his commitment to advancing operational excellence during his tenure, and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.” said Avigal Soreq, President and CEO, “We are excited to welcome Amber to Delek. Her deep industry expertise, proven leadership, and unwavering commitment to safe and reliable operations make her an outstanding addition to our executive team. Her appointment is another important step in Delek’s journey to strengthen, optimize, and elevate our refining platform.”
“I am honored to be joining Delek,” said Ms. Russell. “I am passionate about our industry and the people who keep it running 24 hours a day, and I look forward to building our future together.”
Ms. Russell will be based at Delek’s Brentwood, Tennessee office and will report directly to Avigal Soreq.
FAQ
What leadership change did Delek US Holdings (DK) announce in its refining operations?
Delek US Holdings appointed Amber Russell as Executive Vice President, Refining, effective April 20, 2026. She will lead refining operations with an emphasis on operational excellence, safety performance, and strategic growth across Delek’s refining system, replacing outgoing executive Joseph Israel.
Who is Amber Russell, the new Executive Vice President, Refining at Delek US Holdings (DK)?
Amber Russell is an energy industry executive with nearly three decades of global experience. She previously held senior leadership roles at ExxonMobil and bp, including Senior Vice President positions overseeing refining, terminals, pipelines, integrated operations, and bp Solutions’ centralized risk and opportunity organization.
What happens to Joseph Israel following Delek US Holdings’ leadership transition?
Joseph Israel departed his roles as Executive Vice President, Refining and Renewables at Delek US and as an executive officer of Delek Logistics Partners. Under a separation agreement, he receives previously agreed separation benefits plus company-paid COBRA medical coverage for eighteen months, alongside customary release and non-disparagement terms.
How did Delek US Holdings (DK) communicate the refining leadership transition to the market?
Delek US Holdings issued a press release on April 20, 2026, describing the refining leadership transition and Amber Russell’s appointment. This press release was furnished as Exhibit 99.1 under Regulation FD, meaning it is provided for informational purposes rather than incorporated into securities registration statements by default.
What responsibilities will Amber Russell have in her new role at Delek US Holdings (DK)?
As Executive Vice President, Refining, Amber Russell will lead Delek’s refining operations. The company highlights her focus on advancing operational excellence, strengthening safety performance, and driving strategic growth across its refining platform while working from the Brentwood, Tennessee office and reporting directly to the President and CEO.