Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT) appoints Jean Sutherland as Chief Accounting Officer

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. announced a leadership change in its accounting function. The Board appointed Jean Sutherland as Chief Accounting Officer and principal accounting officer of the company and its operating partnership, effective March 16, 2026. Current Chief Financial Officer Stephen V. Horn will remain CFO and principal financial officer while transferring his Chief Accounting Officer duties to Ms. Sutherland, who will report to him.

Sutherland, age 38, has been Vice President of Financial Reporting and Accounting Policy at the company since June 17, 2024, and previously held senior financial reporting and technical accounting roles at WeWork and Ernst & Young. The company expects to enter into a standard officer indemnification agreement with her, and it reports that there are no special appointment arrangements, family relationships, or related-party transactions requiring disclosure.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 5.02, 9.01

2 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 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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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): March 16, 2026 (March 15, 2026)

EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Maryland

001-36105

37-1645259

(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

EMPIRE STATE REALTY OP, L.P.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware

001-36106

45-4685158

(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

111 West 33rd Street,			12th Floor
New York,			New York			10120
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)						(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 687-8700

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed from 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:

☐			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

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

ESRT

The New York Stock Exchange

Empire State Realty OP, L.P.

Series ES Operating Partnership Units

ESBA

NYSE Arca, Inc.

Series 60 Operating Partnership Units

OGCP

NYSE Arca, Inc.

Series 250 Operating Partnership Units

FISK

NYSE Arca, Inc.

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 March 15, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Jean Sutherland as Chief Accounting Officer and principal accounting officer of the Company and Empire State Realty OP, L.P., the operating partnership of the Company (the “Operating Partnership”), effective on March 16, 2026.

Stephen V. Horn, the Company’s current Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer will continue in his role as Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer, and he will transition his Chief Accounting Officer and principal accounting officer duties to Ms. Sutherland, effective March 16, 2026. Ms. Sutherland will report to Mr. Horn.

Ms. Sutherland, age 38, has served as Vice President, Financial Reporting and Accounting Policy for the Company since June 17, 2024. Prior to the Company, Ms. Sutherland spent over seven years at WeWork in lease accounting, financial reporting, and technical accounting, ultimately overseeing the financial reporting and technical accounting teams as the Global Head of Financial Reporting and Technical Accounting. Prior to WeWork, she worked at Ernst & Young LLP for over five years in Canada and New York, focusing on real estate, hospitality, construction and manufacturing clients. Ms. Sutherland is a certified public accountant and earned a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies from Western University in Ontario, Canada in 2011.

The Company expects to enter into an indemnification agreement with Ms. Sutherland substantially in the form of indemnification agreement entered into with other officers of the Company, which, among other things, provides for indemnification by the Company for certain liabilities and expenses incurred as a result of actions brought, or threatened to be brought, against an officer in connection with such officer’s status or service as an officer of the Company.

There were no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Sutherland and any other persons pursuant to which Ms. Sutherland received her appointment. Ms. Sutherland does not have any family relationships subject to disclosure under Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K or any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.						Description
104						Cover Page Interactive File (the cover page tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST, INC. (Registrant)

Date: March 16, 2026

By:

/s/ Christina Chiu

Name:

Christina Chiu

Title:

President

EMPIRE STATE REALTY OP, L.P. (Registrant) By: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., as general partner

Date: March 16, 2026

By:

/s/ Christina Chiu

Name:

Christina Chiu

Title:

President

FAQ

What executive change did Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT) announce in this 8-K?

Empire State Realty Trust appointed Jean Sutherland as Chief Accounting Officer and principal accounting officer, effective March 16, 2026. She assumes these responsibilities from CFO Stephen V. Horn, who continues as Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer while Sutherland reports directly to him.

What is Jean Sutherland’s background before becoming Chief Accounting Officer at ESRT?

Jean Sutherland has been ESRT’s Vice President, Financial Reporting and Accounting Policy since June 17, 2024. Before that, she spent over seven years at WeWork in senior financial reporting and technical accounting roles, and more than five years at Ernst & Young LLP in Canada and New York.

Will Stephen V. Horn remain Chief Financial Officer of Empire State Realty Trust?

Yes. Stephen V. Horn will continue serving as Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer of Empire State Realty Trust. He is relinquishing his Chief Accounting Officer and principal accounting officer responsibilities to Jean Sutherland as of March 16, 2026, while remaining Sutherland’s direct manager.

Does Empire State Realty Trust plan an indemnification agreement with Jean Sutherland?

Empire State Realty Trust expects to enter into an indemnification agreement with Jean Sutherland, substantially in the form used for its other officers. This agreement provides indemnification for certain liabilities and expenses related to actions brought or threatened against her in her capacity as an officer.

Are there any related-party or family relationships disclosed for Jean Sutherland at ESRT?

The company states there are no arrangements or understandings with other persons behind Jean Sutherland’s appointment. It also reports no family relationships requiring disclosure and no direct or indirect material interest in transactions requiring disclosure under Regulation S-K Items 401(d) or 404(a).

What securities of Empire State Realty Trust and its operating partnership are listed on exchanges?

Empire State Realty Trust’s Class A Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol ESRT. The operating partnership’s Series ES, Series 60, and Series 250 Operating Partnership Units trade on NYSE Arca under symbols ESBA, OGCP, and FISK, respectively.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents

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