Honest Company (NASDAQ: HNST) elevates Curtiss Bruce to finance and operations chief
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
The Honest Company, Inc. promoted Curtiss Bruce to Chief Financial & Operating Officer effective May 21, 2026, expanding his role to include principal operating officer while he continues as principal financial and accounting officer. In connection with the promotion, he received a long-term incentive grant of time-vesting RSUs with a target value of approximately $200,000, vesting 25% on May 19, 2027 and the remainder in equal installments over the next 12 quarterly vesting dates under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
At the 2026 annual meeting, stockholders elected Class II directors Jessica Alba, Alissa Hsu Lynch and Andrea A. Turner to terms running until the 2029 annual meeting. Stockholders also ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, with 71,155,449 votes for, 299,331 against and 537,968 abstentions.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 5.02, 5.07
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 5.07
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Governance
Results of a shareholder vote on proposals at an annual or special meeting.
Key Figures
RSU award value: $200,000
Initial RSU vesting: 25%
Subsequent RSU vesting tranches: 12
+5 more
8 metrics
RSU award value
$200,000
Target value of time-vesting RSUs granted May 21, 2026
Initial RSU vesting
25%
Vests on May 19, 2027 under long-term RSU award
Subsequent RSU vesting tranches
12
Remaining RSUs vest in 12 equal quarterly installments
Bruce age
53
Age of Curtiss Bruce at time of promotion
Votes for Jessica Alba
17,459,113
For votes in Class II director election at 2026 meeting
Votes for Alissa Hsu Lynch
33,431,262
For votes in Class II director election at 2026 meeting
Votes for Andrea A. Turner
37,911,775
For votes in Class II director election at 2026 meeting
Votes for PwC ratification
71,155,449
For votes on auditor ratification for 2026 fiscal year
Key Terms
restricted stock units, 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, principal operating officer, independent registered public accounting firm, +1 more
5 terms
restricted stock units financial
"Mr. Bruce was granted a long-term incentive award of time-vesting restricted stock units"
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.
2021 Equity Incentive Plan financial
"subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's 2021 Equity Incentive Plan"
principal operating officer financial
"Mr. Bruce will serve as the Company’s principal operating officer"
independent registered public accounting firm financial
"ratified the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm"
An independent registered public accounting firm is an outside accounting company officially registered with the government regulator to examine and report on a public company's financial records and controls. Investors treat its reports like an impartial inspector’s certificate — they add credibility to financial statements, help spot errors or misleading claims, and reduce the risk that shareholders are relying on unchecked or biased numbers.
broker non-votes financial
"the number of broker non-votes (if applicable), with respect to each proposal follows below"
Broker non-votes occur when a brokerage firm is unable to vote on a shareholder’s behalf during a company election or decision because the shareholder has not given specific voting instructions, and the broker is not allowed or chooses not to vote on certain matters. They are important because they can affect the outcome of votes, especially when the results are close, by effectively reducing the total number of votes cast.
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): May 20, 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) | (Zip Code) | |||||||
(888 ) 862-8818
(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 Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Appointment of Principal Operating Officer
On May 20, 2026, the Board of Directors of The Honest Company, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the promotion of Curtiss Bruce to the position of Chief Financial & Operating Officer, effective May 21, 2026 (the “Effective Date”). In this position, in addition to serving as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, Mr. Bruce will serve as the Company’s principal operating officer.
Mr. Bruce, age 53, has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since June 2025. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bruce served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis and Investor Relations at The Hain Celestial Group, a natural and organic products company, where he modernized financial systems and enhanced investor engagement. Mr. Bruce previously held senior finance roles at Keurig Dr Pepper, a beverage company, from July 2019 to March 2023, Kellogg Company, a food manufacturing company, from 2015 to 2019, Kraft Heinz, a food manufacturing company, from 2012 to 2015, and Mars, Incorporated, a confectionery, food and pet care company, from 2008 to 2012. Mr. Bruce holds an MBA in finance and supply chain from Penn State University and a bachelor's degree in accounting from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
In connection with his promotion, on May 21, 2026, Mr. Bruce was granted a long-term incentive award of time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with a target value of approximately $200,000, 25% of which will vest on May 19, 2027 and 1/12th of the remaining RSUs will vest on each of the Company's next 12 quarterly vesting dates, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. The number of RSUs underlying the award was calculated by dividing the award’s target value by the 30-day trailing average of the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on the day prior to the Effective Date.
The selection of Mr. Bruce to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial & Operating Officer was not pursuant to any arrangement or understanding with respect to any other person. In addition, there are no family relationships between Mr. Bruce and any director or executive officer of the Company. Mr. Bruce has not been a party to any transaction with the Company or its subsidiaries of the type required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and no such transaction is currently contemplated.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On May 21, 2026, the Company held its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2026 Annual Meeting”). At the 2026 Annual Meeting, the Company's stockholders voted on two proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Company's definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2026 (the “Proxy Statement”). A brief description of each matter voted upon and the certified results, including the number of votes cast for or against each proposal, the number of votes withheld with respect to each proposal (if applicable), the number of abstentions with respect to each proposal (if applicable) and the number of broker non-votes (if applicable), with respect to each proposal follows below.
1.Election of Class II Directors. Each of the three nominees for Class II director was elected to serve as a Class II director until the Company's 2029 annual meeting of stockholders and her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until her respective earlier death, resignation or removal. The voting results are as follows:
| Director Nominee | For | Withheld | Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||
| Jessica Alba | 17,459,113 | 21,791,263 | 32,742,372 | ||||||||
| Alissa Hsu Lynch | 33,431,262 | 5,819,114 | 32,742,372 | ||||||||
| Andrea A. Turner | 37,911,775 | 1,338,601 | 32,742,372 | ||||||||
2. Ratification of the Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Company's stockholders ratified the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the Company's fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. The voting results were as follows:
| For | Against | Abstain | ||||||
| 71,155,449 | 299,331 | 537,968 | ||||||
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 thereunto duly authorized.
| The Honest Company, Inc. | |||||||||||
| Date: | May 27, 2026 | By: | /s/ Brendan Sheehey | ||||||||
| Name: Brendan Sheehey | |||||||||||
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | |||||||||||
FAQ
What executive leadership change did The Honest Company (HNST) announce?
The Honest Company promoted Curtiss Bruce to Chief Financial & Operating Officer, effective May 21, 2026. He now serves as principal financial, accounting, and operating officer, reflecting an expanded leadership role over both the company’s finances and day-to-day operations.
What equity award did Curtiss Bruce receive in his new HNST role?
Curtiss Bruce received time-vesting RSUs with a target value of about $200,000. Twenty‑five percent vest on May 19, 2027, and the remaining units vest in 12 equal installments on the company’s next 12 quarterly vesting dates, subject to plan terms.
Which directors were elected at The Honest Company’s 2026 annual meeting?
Stockholders elected Class II directors Jessica Alba, Alissa Hsu Lynch and Andrea A. Turner. Each will serve until the 2029 annual meeting and until her successor is duly elected and qualified, or earlier death, resignation or removal, according to the disclosed terms.
How did The Honest Company (HNST) stockholders vote on the auditor ratification?
Stockholders ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. The vote totals were 71,155,449 shares for, 299,331 against and 537,968 abstaining, indicating strong overall support for the auditor selection.
How were the RSUs for Curtiss Bruce at The Honest Company calculated?
The number of RSUs was determined by dividing the $200,000 target value by the 30‑day trailing average closing price of the company’s common stock on the day before the effective date, aligning the award size with recent market trading levels.