D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) names acting CFO as Markovich plans 2026 exit
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS) reported that Chief Financial Officer John Markovich has notified the company of his intention to retire and will resign as CFO effective September 2, 2026. The company states his resignation is not due to any disagreement regarding its business, operations, accounting, financial reporting, or controls.
D-Wave’s senior vice president of finance Greg Golkov, age 49, will become acting Chief Financial Officer and will serve as both principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Golkov has more than 25 years of finance and accounting experience and has led D-Wave’s accounting, SEC reporting, FP&A, treasury, and tax functions since May 2023.
The company highlights Markovich’s role in taking D-Wave public in 2022 and in raising over $900 million in capital, as well as in developing what management describes as a path to profitability. A press release dated August 25, 2026 announcing these leadership changes is filed as an exhibit.
Positive
- Clear internal succession, with experienced finance executive Greg Golkov appointed acting CFO and principal financial and accounting officer, reduces uncertainty around financial leadership continuity.
- Company emphasizes that the CFO’s retirement-related resignation is not due to any disagreement on financial reporting, controls, or business matters, which supports continuity in governance and reporting practices.
Negative
- Long-serving CFO John Markovich, credited with helping take the company public and raising over $900 million in capital, is retiring effective September 2, 2026, representing a significant change in senior financial leadership.
Filing Explained
Beyond the announced transition, the filing says any compensation amendment for acting CFO Greg Golkov would be reported in a later amendment; no such amendment or compensation change is disclosed here.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 5.02, 9.01
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 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
CFO retirement effective date: September 2, 2026
Capital raised: over $900 million
Finance experience of new acting CFO: more than 25 years
+5 more
8 metrics
CFO retirement effective date
September 2, 2026
Effective date of John Markovich’s resignation and retirement as Chief Financial Officer
Capital raised
over $900 million
Amount D-Wave credits CFO John Markovich with helping to raise
Finance experience of new acting CFO
more than 25 years
Finance and accounting experience of Greg Golkov
Service as SVP of finance
since May 2023
Period during which Greg Golkov has served as D-Wave’s senior vice president of finance
Quantum cloud availability
99.9% availability and uptime
Stated availability of D-Wave’s Leap quantum cloud service
Organizations using D-Wave
More than 100 organizations
Number of organizations across commercial, government and research sectors using D-Wave solutions
Age of new acting CFO
49
Age of Greg Golkov, who will serve as acting CFO
Press release date
August 25, 2026
Date of the press release announcing the CFO transition
Key Terms
principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, Item 404(a) of Regulation S‑K, dual-platform quantum computing, +2 more
6 terms
principal financial officer financial
"will become the Company’s acting Chief Financial Officer and principal financial"
The principal financial officer is the senior executive who runs a company's financial operations: preparing and certifying financial reports, managing accounting controls, budgets and cash flow, and advising on financial strategy. Investors care about this role because its competence affects how trustworthy the company’s numbers are, how well it manages risk and capital needs, and the credibility of forecasts—like the chief navigator steering a firm's financial course.
principal accounting officer financial
"acting Chief Financial Officer and principal financial and principal accounting officer"
The Principal Accounting Officer is the person responsible for making sure a company's financial records are accurate and follow the rules. They play a key role in preparing financial reports that show how well the company is doing. This helps investors, managers, and regulators trust the company's financial information.
Item 404(a) of Regulation S‑K regulatory
"no transactions between Mr. Golkov and the Company that would be reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S‑K"
dual-platform quantum computing technical
"the only dual-platform quantum computing company providing both annealing and gate-model systems"
A computing approach that combines two different kinds of quantum hardware or architectures so each compensates for the other's weaknesses, like a hybrid car using both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. For investors, it signals a strategy to reduce technical risk and increase chances of practical, scalable quantum computing by diversifying engineering paths and potentially accelerating commercial milestones and revenue opportunities.
annealing technical
"offer dual-platform quantum computing products and services, spanning both annealing and gate-model"
Annealing is a controlled process that changes the internal structure of a material or molecular system to improve performance: in manufacturing it typically means heating and then slowly cooling metals, glass or semiconductor layers to relieve stress and make them stronger or more reliable, while in molecular biology it means bringing complementary strands of DNA or RNA together so they stick in the right places. Investors should care because annealing affects product quality, manufacturing yield, device reliability and the accuracy of biological tests—factors that influence costs, revenue and regulatory outcomes much like reshaping or neatly fastening parts improves a finished product.
gate-model technical
"dual-platform quantum computing products and services, spanning both annealing and gate-model"
A gate-model is a stepwise project-management process that breaks a development program into defined stages separated by decision points, or “gates,” where progress, evidence and resources are reviewed before allowing the project to continue. For investors, each gate acts like a checkpoint on a road trip—cleared gates reduce technical and regulatory risk and justify further funding, while failed or delayed gates signal higher chance of cost overruns, timeline slips or project termination.
FAQ
What executive change did D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS) announce in this 8-K?
D-Wave Quantum Inc. announced that CFO John Markovich is retiring and will resign as Chief Financial Officer effective September 2, 2026, and that senior vice president of finance Greg Golkov will become acting CFO and serve as principal financial and principal accounting officer.
Why is D-Wave Quantum’s CFO John Markovich leaving his role?
D-Wave states that John Markovich is retiring and resigning as CFO effective September 2, 2026. The company specifies that his resignation was not the result of any disagreement relating to its business, operations, accounting policies, financial statements, disclosure controls, or internal control over financial reporting.
Who is replacing the CFO at D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS)?
Greg Golkov, age 49, currently senior vice president of finance, will become acting Chief Financial Officer and serve as principal financial and principal accounting officer. He has more than 25 years of finance and accounting experience and has led D-Wave’s finance functions since May 2023.
What contributions of departing CFO John Markovich does D-Wave Quantum highlight?
D-Wave highlights that John Markovich played a role in taking the company public in 2022, helped raise over $900 million in capital, worked to improve and grow financial performance, and contributed to developing what management describes as an achievable path for the company to reach profitability.
What exhibit is included with D-Wave Quantum’s 8-K about the CFO transition?
The 8-K includes Exhibit 99.1, a press release dated August 25, 2026 announcing the resignation of CFO John Markovich and the appointment of senior vice president of finance Greg Golkov as acting CFO. Exhibit 104 covers the Cover Page Interactive Data File.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
