FirstCash Holdings (NASDAQ: FCFS) plans CEO handoff to Brent Stuart
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
FirstCash Holdings, Inc. announced a leadership transition in which Rick Wessel, currently Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman, will become Executive Chairman of the Board and cease serving as CEO effective January 1, 2027, referred to as the Transition Date. Wessel is expected to continue as Executive Chairman for at least three years, subject to re-election at annual stockholder meetings.
The Board has appointed Brent Stuart, age 56 and currently President and Chief Operating Officer, to succeed Wessel as CEO on the Transition Date while retaining direct responsibility for day-to-day operations. Stuart has served as President and COO since September 2016 following the merger with Cash America, where he held senior leadership roles since 2008. Effective July 22, 2026, Stuart was also elected to the Board and will stand for re-election at the 2027 Annual Meeting; he will not receive separate Board compensation and is not expected to serve on Board committees. On the Transition Date, current Chairman Dan Feehan will retire as Chairman but remain a director. Compensation terms for Wessel as Executive Chairman and Stuart as CEO are not yet determined and will be disclosed in an amendment once set.
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8-K Event Classification
Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
1 item
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.
Key Figures
CEO transition effective date: January 1, 2027
Expected Executive Chairman term: at least three years
Brent Stuart age: 56 years
+3 more
6 metrics
CEO transition effective date
January 1, 2027
Date when Brent Stuart becomes CEO and Rick Wessel ceases serving as CEO
Expected Executive Chairman term
at least three years
Period Wessel is expected to serve as Executive Chairman, subject to re-election
Brent Stuart age
56 years
Age of Brent Stuart, the incoming Chief Executive Officer
President and COO tenure
since September 2016
Stuart’s service as President and Chief Operating Officer following the Cash America merger
Year Stuart joined Cash America
2008
Year Brent Stuart began serving in senior leadership roles with Cash America
Announcement and board election date
July 22, 2026
Date the leadership transition was announced and Stuart was elected to the Board
Key Terms
Executive Chairman, Transition Date, annual meetings of stockholders, Chief Operating Officer
4 terms
Executive Chairman financial
"will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board"
An executive chairman is the board leader who also takes an active role in running the company, combining oversight of the board with hands-on involvement in strategy and major decisions. For investors, this matters because it concentrates influence in one person—like a team captain who both sets the game plan and plays on the field—so their judgment can speed decisions but also increases governance and succession risk that can affect stock value.
Transition Date regulatory
"effective January 1, 2027 (the Transition Date)"
annual meetings of stockholders regulatory
"subject to re-election as a Board member at the Company’s annual meetings of stockholders"
Chief Operating Officer financial
"the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer"
A chief operating officer (COO) is a senior executive responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of a company, ensuring that all parts of the organization work smoothly and efficiently. They often act like a company's operational quarterback, translating strategic plans into practical actions. For investors, the COO's effectiveness can influence a company's performance and stability, making them an important figure in assessing the company's management strength.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What CEO transition did FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) announce?
FirstCash Holdings announced that Rick Wessel will move from Chief Executive Officer to Executive Chairman and Brent Stuart will become CEO effective January 1, 2027. Wessel is expected to remain Executive Chairman for at least three years, subject to board re-election.
Who is Brent Stuart at FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) and what is his background?
Brent Stuart, age 56, is currently President and Chief Operating Officer and will become CEO on January 1, 2027. He has served as FirstCash’s President and COO since September 2016 after the Cash America merger and held senior roles at Cash America since 2008.
What role will Rick Wessel have at FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) after January 1, 2027?
After January 1, 2027, Rick Wessel will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board and no longer be CEO. The company and Wessel expect he will serve as Executive Chairman for at least three years, subject to re-election at annual meetings of stockholders.
How is the board of directors changing at FirstCash Holdings (FCFS)?
Effective July 22, 2026, Brent Stuart joined the Board and will stand for re-election at the 2027 Annual Meeting. On the Transition Date, current Chairman Dan Feehan will retire as Chairman but continue to serve as a member of the Board.
Will Brent Stuart receive additional compensation for his board role at FirstCash Holdings (FCFS)?
The company states that Brent Stuart will not receive separate compensation for serving on the Board and is not expected to sit on any Board committees. His overall compensation as CEO has not yet been determined and will be disclosed later.
Have compensation terms for the new leadership roles at FirstCash Holdings (FCFS) been set?
Compensation terms for Rick Wessel as Executive Chairman and Brent Stuart as CEO have not yet been determined. The company plans to disclose these arrangements in an amendment once they are finalized.
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 22, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(817 ) 335-1100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(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:
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 | ||||||
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ☐
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Chief Executive Officer Transition
On July 22, 2026, FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that Rick Wessel, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and cease serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2027 (the “Transition Date”). The Company and Mr. Wessel expect that Mr. Wessel will continue to serve on the Board as Executive Chairman for at least three years, subject to re-election as a Board member at the Company’s annual meetings of stockholders.
The Board has also appointed Brent Stuart, the Company’s current President and Chief Operating Officer, to succeed Mr. Wessel as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer effective as of the Transition Date. In addition to Mr. Stuart’s responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer following the Transition Date, he will continue to have direct responsibility over the Company’s day-to-day operations. Mr. Stuart, age 56, has served as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer since September 2016 following the Company’s merger with Cash America. Prior to that, Mr. Stuart served as Cash America’s president and chief executive officer since November 2015, Cash America’s president and chief operating officer from May 2015 through October 2015, and Cash America’s executive vice president-chief operating officer from January 2015 through April 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Stuart served in various senior leadership roles with Cash America since joining Cash America in 2008.
The terms of Mr. Wessel’s compensation as the Board’s Executive Chairman and Mr. Stuart’s compensation as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer have yet to be determined. The Company will file an amendment to this Form 8-K when such compensation has been determined.
Election of Director and Board of Director Changes
Effective as of July 22, 2026, the Board has unanimously elected Mr. Stuart as a member of the Board. Mr. Stuart will stand for re-election at the Company’s 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. Stuart will not receive separate compensation as a member of the Board and is not expected to serve on any committees of the Board.
On the Transition Date, Dan Feehan, the Company’s current Chairman of the Board, will retire from his position as Chairman and continue to serve as a member of the Board.
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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: July 22, 2026 | FIRSTCASH HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||
| (Registrant) | |||||
| /s/ R. DOUGLAS ORR | |||||
| R. Douglas Orr | |||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||
| (As Principal Financial Officer) | |||||
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