Who is Jay Jacobs, the new CEO of the iShares Gold Trust sponsor?

Jay Jacobs is a Managing Director at BlackRock and has served as U.S. Head of Equity ETFs since April 7, 2025. He previously led thematics and active equity ETFs at BlackRock, worked at Global X ETFs from 2013 to 2022, and earlier at the New York Stock Exchange.

Which executive resigned from the iShares Gold Trust sponsor and why?

Effective March 27, 2026, Shannon Ghia resigned as a Director and as President and Chief Executive Officer of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC. The filing states her decision was not due to any dispute or disagreement about the Trust’s operations, policies, or practices.

What is the relationship between iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC and iShares Gold Trust (IAU)?

iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC is identified as the sponsor of iShares Gold Trust. As sponsor, it is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s administration and operations, and its Board and officers, including the President and Chief Executive Officer, play key governance roles.

How is BlackRock connected to the new leadership at iShares Gold Trust’s sponsor?

Jay Jacobs, the new President and CEO of the sponsor, is a Managing Director at BlackRock, Inc. He was appointed to the sponsor’s Board and officer roles by BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., which is described as the member of the sponsor entity.

iShares Gold Trust shifts sponsor leadership to Jay Jacobs

iShares® Gold Trust reported leadership changes at its sponsor, iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC.

Accepted by SEC EDGAR 03/30/2026 - 09:48 PM EDT

Filing Impact

(Moderate)

Filing Sentiment

(Neutral)How Sentiment works

Sentiment and the balance of points

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How Sentiment works How the balance works

Form Type

8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

iShares® Gold Trust reported leadership changes at its sponsor, iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC. On March 27, 2026, Jay Jacobs was appointed to the Sponsor’s Board of Directors and named its President and Chief Executive Officer. He is a Managing Director at BlackRock and has led BlackRock’s U.S. equity ETFs since April 2025, with prior roles in thematic and active ETFs and earlier experience at Global X ETFs and the New York Stock Exchange.

On the same date, Shannon Ghia resigned as a Director and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sponsor. The filing states that her decision to resign was not due to any dispute or disagreement with the Sponsor or the Trust regarding operations, policies, or practices.

Insights

Leadership at the iShares Gold Trust sponsor shifts to a BlackRock ETF veteran.

The sponsor of iShares Gold Trust appointed Jay Jacobs as President, CEO, and director effective March 27, 2026. His background in equity ETFs at BlackRock and prior ETF industry roles suggests continuity with BlackRock’s broader product and strategy framework.

At the same time, former President and CEO Shannon Ghia resigned from her director and officer roles, with the filing specifying no dispute or disagreement related to operations, policies, or practices. Future company communications may outline how Jacobs’ ETF experience shapes sponsor oversight of the Trust.

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

Appointment date: March 27, 2026 Resignation date: March 27, 2026 Equity ETFs head role start: April 7, 2025

3 metrics

Appointment date March 27, 2026 Jay Jacobs named President, CEO, and Director of sponsor

Resignation date March 27, 2026 Shannon Ghia resigns as Director, President, and CEO of sponsor

Equity ETFs head role start April 7, 2025 Jay Jacobs began role as U.S. Head of Equity ETFs at BlackRock

Key Terms

Emerging growth company, Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer, CFA charterholder

4 terms

Emerging growth company regulatory

"405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934... Emerging growth company"

An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.

Board of Directors financial

"Jay Jacobs was appointed to the Board of Directors of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC"

The Board of Directors is a group of people chosen by a company's owners to help make big decisions and oversee how the company is run. They act like a team of advisors or managers, making sure the company stays on track and meets its goals. Their choices can influence the company's success and how it grows.

President and Chief Executive Officer financial

"Mr. Jacobs was appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sponsor"

CFA charterholder financial

"Mr. Jacobs earned a BA degree... and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a CFA charterholder."

A CFA charterholder is a finance professional who has passed a series of rigorous exams and met work‑experience and ethics requirements to earn the Chartered Financial Analyst credential. For investors, that credential acts like a trusted license or “black belt” in investment analysis and portfolio management, signaling tested knowledge, disciplined methods, and a commitment to ethical standards—qualities that help evaluate the credibility of financial advice and research.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What leadership change did iShares Gold Trust (IAU) report in this filing?

The filing reports that Jay Jacobs was appointed President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC on March 27, 2026. This entity sponsors iShares Gold Trust, meaning he now leads the sponsor’s governance and oversight functions for the Trust.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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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 27, 2026

iShares® Gold Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York
(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation)

001-32418
(Commission File Number)

81-6124036
(I.R.S. Employer Identification

No.)

c/o iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC
400 Howard Street
San Francisco, California 94105
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 670-2000

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
Shares	IAU	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 27, 2026, Jay Jacobs was appointed to the Board of Directors of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), which is the sponsor of iShares® Gold Trust (the “Trust”). Mr. Jacobs was appointed by BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., which is the member of the Sponsor. Also on March 27, 2026, Mr. Jacobs was appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sponsor.

Mr. Jacobs is a Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) and has served as the U.S. Head of Equity ETFs at BlackRock since April 7, 2025. In this role, he oversees the overall product strategy, thought leadership, and client engagement for BlackRock’s U.S. index and active equity ETF business. Mr. Jacobs joined BlackRock as U.S. Head of Thematics and Active Equity ETFs on April 18, 2022. From May 2013 to March 2022, he worked at Global X ETFs, where he founded and led the firm’s research and strategy team. Previously, Mr. Jacobs was a business analyst at the New York Stock Exchange from July 2011 to May 2013. Mr. Jacobs earned a BA degree in International Studies from Emory University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a CFA charterholder.

In addition, effective March 27, 2026, Shannon Ghia resigned as a Director of the Sponsor and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sponsor. Ms. Ghia’s decision to resign was not the result of any dispute or disagreement with the Sponsor or the Trust on any matter relating to the Trust's operations, policies or practices.

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.

Date: March 31, 2026

	iShares® Gold Trust*

	By:	iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC


	By:	/s/ Bryan Bowers
		Name: Bryan Bowers Title: Director and Chief Financial Officer

*	The registrant is a trust. The individual specified above is signing in his capacity as an officer and/or authorized signatory of iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor of the Trust.

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents

iShares Gold Trust shifts sponsor leadership to Jay Jacobs

Rhea-AI Filing Summary