Kyndryl (NYSE: KD) hires Ellen Johnson as CFO and Andrew Bonzani as General Counsel
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. is strengthening its senior leadership team by appointing Ellen Johnson as Chief Financial Officer and Andrew Bonzani as General Counsel and Secretary. Johnson will join on July 20, 2026 and become CFO the day after Kyndryl files its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, succeeding interim CFO Harsh Chugh, who will remain to support the transition. Bonzani’s appointment as General Counsel and Secretary is effective immediately, with prior interim Mark Ringes returning to Deputy General Counsel.
Johnson’s compensation includes a $1,000,000 base salary, a target annual incentive of 125% of salary, a fiscal 2027 long-term incentive award targeted at $4,500,000 split between performance share units and restricted stock units, and a $1,500,000 sign-on RSU grant. Bonzani will receive a $900,000 base salary, a 125% target annual incentive, a fiscal 2027 long-term incentive award targeted at $2,500,000, and a $1,250,000 sign-on RSU grant, with multi-year vesting tied to performance and service.
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Insights
Kyndryl adds experienced external leaders to permanent CFO and General Counsel roles.
Kyndryl is moving from interim to permanent leadership in two critical roles, bringing in Ellen Johnson as CFO and Andrew Bonzani as General Counsel. Both have long tenures at large public companies, which can support financial oversight and governance as Kyndryl executes its strategy.
The compensation structures rely heavily on variable and equity-based pay, including performance share units that vest over a three-year period based on pre-established performance criteria. This design links a substantial portion of pay to future company results rather than guaranteed cash.
Because incentives are prorated for fiscal 2027 based on months of service and emphasize long-term awards, the real impact of these hires will be reflected over several fiscal years as Kyndryl reports on performance against those goals in future filings.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
restricted stock units financial
long-term incentive financial
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers regulatory
Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory
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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On July 1, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Ellen Johnson as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective the day after the Company files its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (the “Effective Date”). Ms. Johnson will commence her employment with the Company on July 20, 2026, prior to such filing, to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.
Ms. Johnson, 60, previously served from 2020 to 2025 as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (“IPG”), a global advertising and marketing company that was recently acquired by Omnicom Group Inc. Since joining IPG in 2000, she served in several senior finance leadership positions, including as chief financial officer of IPG Mediabrands from 2018 to 2020, senior vice president of finance and treasurer from 2013 to 2020, senior vice president and treasurer from 2004 to 2013, and assistant treasurer, international from 2000 to 2004. Ms. Johnson also recently served as an advisor in residence for the EY Center for Executive Leadership, an executive leadership advisory program, from 2025 to 2026, and she currently serves on the board of directors of Nexstar Media Group, Inc., a media company. Ms. Johnson received her MBA in finance from New York University Stern School of Business, and her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, with a minor in business, from State University of New York at Albany.
Ms. Johnson does not have any family relationship with any of the Company’s executive officers or directors, and there are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Johnson and any persons pursuant to which she was appointed as an officer of the Company. In addition, there have been no transactions involving Ms. Johnson that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
In connection with the appointment of Ms. Johnson, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee of the Board set her annual base salary at $1,000,000, with an annual target incentive opportunity of 125% of base salary. Ms. Johnson’s annual incentive award payout will be prorated for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2027 (“fiscal 2027”), based on months of service, and will be determined by achievement of the Company’s pre-established performance goals. Ms. Johnson will also be eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive (“LTI”) program and is expected to receive a fiscal 2027 LTI award with a target grant value of $4,500,000, of which 65% will be delivered in the form of performance share units (“PSUs”) and 35% will be delivered in time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The RSU award will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, and the PSUs will vest subject to the achievement of the Company’s pre-established performance criteria over a three-year performance period. Ms. Johnson will also receive a special sign-on RSU grant with a grant date value of $1,500,000 that will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.
Upon the Effective Date, Ms. Johnson will succeed Harsh Chugh, the Company’s current Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Chugh will remain at the Company after the Effective Date and assist with the transition.
Additionally, on July 1, 2026, the Board appointed Andrew Bonzani as General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Bonzani succeeds Mark Ringes, who served as the Company’s Interim General Counsel and Secretary and returns to his role as Deputy General Counsel.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
Mr. Bonzani, 62, previously served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of IPG since joining in 2012 and most recently as executive vice president and general counsel from 2021 to 2025. Prior to joining IPG, Andrew worked at IBM, holding a number of positions in the legal department for 18 years, most recently as vice president, assistant general counsel and secretary from 2008 to 2012, overseeing the corporate legal functions. Mr. Bonzani received his JD from St. John’s University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Binghamton University.
Mr. Bonzani does not have any family relationship with any of the Company’s executive officers or directors, and there are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Bonzani and any persons pursuant to which he was appointed as an officer of the Company. In addition, there have been no transactions involving Mr. Bonzani that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
In connection with the appointment of Mr. Bonzani, the Compensation and Human Capital Committee of the Board set his annual base salary at $900,000, with an annual target incentive opportunity of 125% of base salary. Mr. Bonzani’s annual incentive award payout will be prorated for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2027 (“fiscal 2027”), based on months of service, and will be determined by achievement of the Company’s pre-established performance goals. Mr. Bonzani will also be eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive (“LTI”) program and is expected to receive a fiscal 2027 LTI award with a target grant value of $2,500,000, of which 65% will be delivered in the form of performance share units (“PSUs”) and 35% will be delivered in time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The RSU award will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, and the PSUs will vest subject to the achievement of the Company’s pre-established performance criteria over a three-year performance period. Mr. Bonzani will also receive a special sign-on RSU grant with a grant date value of $1,250,000 that will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.
A press release announcing the appointments of Ms. Johnson, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Mr. Bonzani, as General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
| Number | Description of Exhibit |
| 99.1 | Press Release, dated July 6, 2026 (Furnished herewith) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded in the Inline XBRL document) |
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: July 6, 2026
| KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Ann Schlaffman | |
| Name: Ann Schlaffman | ||
| Title: Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary | ||
Exhibit 99.1
Kyndryl Announces Ellen Johnson as Incoming
Chief Financial Officer
and Andrew Bonzani as General Counsel and Secretary
NEW YORK, July 6, 2026 — Kyndryl (NYSE: KD), a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise technology services, today announced the appointments of Ellen Johnson as incoming Chief Financial Officer and Andrew Bonzani as General Counsel and Secretary. This comes after a comprehensive search for candidates with proven operational expertise and demonstrated leadership in public companies.
“Ellen and Andrew are experienced leaders in driving financial discipline, operational excellence and strong governance at global, public companies,” said Martin Schroeter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kyndryl. “Their complementary experience will further enhance Kyndryl’s senior leadership team as we advance the company’s growth strategy with differentiated services that support our customers’ most complex challenges while taking disciplined actions to strengthen our business.”
Johnson will join Kyndryl on July 20 and assume the role of Chief Financial Officer on August 6. She joins from Interpublic Group (IPG), which was recently acquired by Omnicom, where she most recently served from 2020 to 2025 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IPG. Since joining IPG in 2000, she held a series of senior finance leadership positions, including Chief Financial Officer of IPG Mediabrands, Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer, International. Johnson currently serves on the Board of Directors of Nexstar Media Group and recently served as an advisor in residence for the EY Center for Executive Leadership. She earned her MBA in finance from New York University Stern School of Business and her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, with a minor in business, from the State University of New York at Albany. Harsh Chugh will continue to serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer through August 5 when Kyndryl plans to file its first-quarter 2027 earnings report and Form 10-Q. Chugh will remain at the company and assist with the transition.
Bonzani’s appointment is effective immediately. He joins Kyndryl with deep public company experience having served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at IPG since joining in 2012 and most recently as Executive Vice President and General Counsel from 2021 to 2025. Prior to joining IPG, he worked at IBM in the legal department for 18 years, most recently as Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Secretary, overseeing the corporate legal functions. Bonzani received his JD from St. John’s University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Binghamton University. Mark Ringes, who served as Kyndryl’s Interim General Counsel and Secretary, returns to his role as Deputy General Counsel.
About Kyndryl
Kyndryl (NYSE: KD) is a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise technology services offering advisory, implementation and managed services to thousands of customers in more than 60 countries. As the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, the company designs, builds, manages and modernizes the complex information systems that the world depends on every day. For more information, visit www.kyndryl.com.
Kyndryl Press Contact
press@kyndryl.com