Franklin Wireless (FKWL) appoints Bill Bauer as new Chief Operating Officer

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Franklin Wireless Corp. announced a leadership change, appointing Bill Bauer as Chief Operating Officer effective March 25, 2026. He has been the company’s General Counsel and Director of Strategic Planning since January 2020 and also served as Interim Chief Financial Officer from September 2022 until January 1, 2025.

Bauer previously worked as in-house legal counsel and senior finance executive in multiple industries in California and Texas. He holds an MBA from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, and is a member of both the California and Texas State Bars.

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.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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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: March 26, 2026

Franklin Wireless Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada	001-14891	95-3733534
(State or Other Jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

3940 Ruffin Road, Suite C

San Diego, CA 92123

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(858) 623-0000

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
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share	FKWL	NASDAQ Capital Market

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. ☐

Section 5 - Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Effective March 25, 2026, the Board of Directors has appointed Bill Bauer to serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Bill has served as General Counsel and Director of Strategic planning for the Company since January 2020 and also served as Interim CFO from September 2022 until January 1, 2025.

Prior to joining Franklin, Bill served as in-house legal counsel and senior finance executive across various industries in California and Texas. Bill has over 15 years of experience in finance and executive management. Bill also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law. Bill is also a member of both the California and Texas State Bars.

2

SIGNATURE

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.

Date: March 26, 2026	FRANKLIN WIRELESS CORP.
	By: /s/ OC Kim
	OC Kim, President

3

FAQ

What executive change did Franklin Wireless Corp. (FKWL) disclose?

Franklin Wireless Corp. appointed Bill Bauer as Chief Operating Officer effective March 25, 2026. This move formalizes his leadership role after serving as General Counsel, Director of Strategic Planning, and previously as Interim Chief Financial Officer at the company.

What is Bill Bauer’s background at Franklin Wireless Corp. (FKWL)?

Bill Bauer has served as General Counsel and Director of Strategic Planning since January 2020. He also acted as Interim Chief Financial Officer from September 2022 until January 1, 2025, giving him broad experience across legal, finance, and strategic functions within Franklin Wireless.

What prior experience does Franklin Wireless (FKWL) COO Bill Bauer bring?

Before joining Franklin Wireless, Bill Bauer worked as in-house legal counsel and senior finance executive in various industries in California and Texas. This combination of legal and finance roles provides diverse operational experience relevant to his new position as Chief Operating Officer.

What are Bill Bauer’s educational qualifications at Franklin Wireless (FKWL)?

Bill Bauer holds a Master’s in Business Administration from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. He is also licensed to practice law as a member of both the California and Texas State Bars.

When did Franklin Wireless Corp. (FKWL) make the COO appointment effective?

The appointment of Bill Bauer as Chief Operating Officer at Franklin Wireless became effective March 25, 2026. The company later documented this leadership change in a current report, providing investors with formal confirmation of the new executive role.

What SEC form did Franklin Wireless (FKWL) use to report the COO appointment?

Franklin Wireless reported Bill Bauer’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer on a Form 8-K. This filing type is used to disclose significant current events, including key executive changes under the corporate governance and management disclosure requirements.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL SCHEMA FILE 3.0 KB
• EX-101 XBRL LABEL FILE 33.4 KB
• EX-101 XBRL PRESENTATION FILE 21.8 KB