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Rapid7 (NASDAQ: RPD) adds ex-Army cyber leader to reshaped board

(Moderate)
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Rapid7, Inc. (RPD) reported a significant Board reconfiguration. On August 27, 2026, directors Michael Burns, Benjamin Holzman, Thomas Schodorf and Reeny Sondhi resigned from the Board and its committees, effective the same day, with the Company stating the resignations were not due to any disagreement over operations, policies or practices. As an exception to the Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, each resigning director will receive the cash compensation they would have earned under the policy through June 30, 2027 and accelerated vesting of their unvested Initial and Annual equity awards.

Following these resignations, the Board elected Maria Barrett and current Chief Experience Officer Julian Waits as directors, effective September 1, 2026, and fixed the Board size at nine. Rapid7 entered into a Transition Agreement with Mr. Waits, under which he continues as Chief Experience Officer through the appointment of his successor and then in a non-executive capacity until December 31, 2026, with a transition payment equal to six months of base salary, continued bonus eligibility for 2026, and continued equity vesting, all subject to a noncompetition covenant and continued service. The Board also named J. Benjamin Nye as Lead Independent Director and reassigned committee memberships, confirming all committee members meet Nasdaq and, for the Audit Committee, Exchange Act Rule 10A-3 requirements.

Positive

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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.
Number of resigning directors 4 directors Resignations effective as of August 27, 2026
Board size 9 directors Authorized number of directors fixed at nine in conjunction with reconfiguration
Tenure of service for Ms. Barrett more than 35 years Service in the U.S. Army leading global IT, cybersecurity and network operations
Workforce managed by Ms. Barrett 16,000 personnel Globally dispersed workforce she led while commanding Army cyber and network operations
Annual budget overseen by Ms. Barrett nearly $2 billion Annual budget she oversaw in her U.S. Army command role
Customers served under Ms. Barrett 1.2 million customers Number of customers served by the Army IT and network operations she led
Transition payment to Mr. Waits six months of current base salary Paid in lieu of severance, subject to providing transition services and noncompetition covenant
Noncompetition period for Mr. Waits 6 months after employment termination Noncompetition covenant covers his employment term and six months thereafter
Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy financial
"as an exception to and notwithstanding the terms of the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy"
Transition Agreement financial
"the Company entered into a transition agreement with Mr. Waits (the “Transition Agreement”)"
noncompetition covenant regulatory
"subject to clawback in the event of any noncompetition covenant breach"
Lead Independent Director financial
"the Board appointed J. Benjamin Nye as Lead Independent Director"
A lead independent director is a board member who is not part of company management and is chosen to coordinate and represent the other independent directors, often running sessions without the CEO, helping set meeting agendas, and serving as a liaison between shareholders and the board. For investors, this role signals stronger, more balanced oversight—like a neutral referee who helps ensure decisions are fair, transparent and focused on protecting shareholder interests.
Audit Committee financial
"Effective as of September 1, 2026, the committees of the Board will be composed as follows Audit Committee"
A company's audit committee is a small group of board members who act like independent inspectors for the firm's finances, overseeing how financial reports are prepared, monitoring internal controls, and managing the relationship with external auditors. Investors care because a strong audit committee reduces the risk of accounting errors, fraud, or misleading statements, making financial statements more trustworthy and helping protect shareholder value.
Rule 10A-3 regulatory
"and, in the case of the Audit Committee, Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act"

FAQ

What Board changes did Rapid7 (RPD) announce on August 27, 2026?

Rapid7 reported that four directors resigned effective August 27, 2026, and that the Board subsequently elected Maria Barrett and Chief Experience Officer Julian Waits as new directors effective September 1, 2026, while fixing the total number of directors at nine.

Were Rapid7 (RPD) director resignations due to disagreements with the company?

Rapid7 stated that the resignations of Michael Burns, Benjamin Holzman, Thomas Schodorf and Reeny Sondhi on August 27, 2026 were not the result of any disagreement with the company on operations, policies or practices.

What compensation will Rapid7’s resigning directors receive under the 2025 Policy?

Each resigning Rapid7 director will receive cash equal to the compensation that would have been paid under the Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy through June 30, 2027, plus accelerated vesting of the unvested portions of their Initial and Annual equity awards.

What are the key terms of Rapid7’s Transition Agreement with Julian Waits?

Under the Transition Agreement, Julian Waits continues as Chief Experience Officer then in a non-executive role until December 31, 2026, receives a transition payment equal to six months of base salary, a 2026 bonus based on actual performance, and continued equity vesting, subject to a noncompetition covenant.

Who is Rapid7’s new Lead Independent Director and when was this effective?

Rapid7’s Board appointed J. Benjamin Nye as Lead Independent Director, effective August 27, 2026, succeeding Marc Brown, who continues to serve as a director.

Do Rapid7’s new directors meet Nasdaq and audit committee eligibility rules?

The Board determined that all members of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, including new director Maria Barrett, satisfy applicable Nasdaq eligibility requirements and, for the Audit Committee, Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.

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

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Learn about SEC filing dates
0001560327false00015603272026-06-092026-06-09

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): August 27, 2026 
Rapid7, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware001-3749635-2423994
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
120 Causeway Street
Boston,Massachusetts02114
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(617) 247-1717
(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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Title of each classTrading symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per shareRPDThe Nasdaq Global 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.  ☐



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

Director Resignations

On August 27, Michael Burns, Benjamin Holzman, Thomas Schodorf and Reeny Sondhi notified the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Rapid7, Inc. (the “Company”) of their respective decisions to resign from the Board and each committee of the Board on which they serve, in each case effective as of August 27, 2026. The resignations were not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

In connection with the resignations, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”), the Board approved, as an exception to and notwithstanding the terms of the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, effective June 11, 2025 (the “Policy”), (i) the payment to each resigning director of an amount equal to the cash compensation such director would have received under the Policy through June 30, 2027 and (ii) the accelerated vesting of the unvested portion of each Initial Award and Annual Award (each, as defined in the Policy) held by such resigning director, effective immediately prior to the effectiveness of the applicable resignation. The Policy was filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, filed on August 8, 2025 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

New Director Appointments

Following the effectiveness of such resignations, on August 29, 2026, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating Committee”), the Board elected Maria Barrett and Julian Waits to serve as members of the Board, effective as of September 1, 2026. Ms. Barrett and Mr. Waits will each serve until the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

Ms. Barrett, 60 years old, is the owner of Barrett Cyber Solutions LLC. Ms. Barrett is a retired Lieutenant General of the U.S. Army and previously served as a Commanding General of the U.S. Army Cyber Command and Network Enterprise Technology Command from November 2018 to December 2025. Over the course of more than 35 years of service, Ms. Barrett has developed extensive experience leading and directing the delivery of global IT services, cybersecurity and enterprise network operations. Ms. Barrett’s executive leadership experience includes managing a globally dispersed workforce of 16,000, serving 1.2 million customers, overseeing a nearly $2 billion annual budget and developing initiatives and systems to deliver sustained readiness across the U.S. Army’s Cyber Forces. Ms. Barrett also has extensive experience advising senior executives on cyber warfare, cyber defense, artificial intelligence, and cyber threat intelligence. Ms. Barrett holds a Bachelors degree from Tufts University, and Masters degrees from Webster University and the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

Mr. Waits, 60 years old, has served as the Company’s Chief Experience Officer since September 2025. As Chief Experience Officer, Mr. Waits is responsible for strengthening customer outcomes and ensuring customer priorities are reflected across the Company’s business, working closely with sales, marketing, product, engineering and executive leadership at the intersection of customer strategy, cybersecurity operations, technology and business performance. Prior to becoming Chief Experience Officer, Mr. Waits held senior leadership responsibilities at the Company spanning enterprise sales, business development, corporate development and strategic alliances. Before joining the Company, Mr. Waits held senior operating and executive roles across cybersecurity and enterprise technology companies, with a focus on go-to-market strategy, growth and business development, and has extensive experience and relationships across the cybersecurity industry. His experience includes leadership positions at Devo, ThreatTrack Security, CyberPoint Risk Analytics, Brabeion Software, Way2Market360, Archer Technologies, e-Security, BNX Systems, Banyan Systems, Compaq Computer Corporation, BMC Software and Chevron Corporation. Mr. Waits attended Loyola University New Orleans and Xavier University of Louisiana.

In conjunction with the foregoing resignations and appointments, the Board fixed the authorized number of directors constituting the Board at nine.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Barrett and Mr. Waits and any other person pursuant to which either was selected as a director. Except as described below with respect to Mr. Waits, there are no transactions involving Ms. Barrett or Mr. Waits requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with Mr. Waits’ transition from his role as the Company’s Chief Experience Officer to a member of the Board, on August 30, 2026, the Company entered into a transition agreement with Mr. Waits (the “Transition Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Mr. Waits will (i) continue serving as the Company’s Chief Experience Officer until his



successor is duly appointed and thereafter in a non-executive capacity until December 31, 2026 and receive the same compensation he was otherwise entitled to during such period, (ii) receive a transition payment of six months of his current base salary in lieu of any severance payments or benefits under his Severance and Equity Award Vesting Acceleration Letter, dated as of May 1, 2026, provided that he remains available to provide transition services to the Company for 6 months after his employment termination date and subject to clawback in the event of any noncompetition covenant breach, (iii) receive payment of his 2026 annual bonus based on actual performance as determined in accordance with the applicable annual bonus plan, and (iv) continue vesting in his outstanding restricted stock unit and performance stock unit awards, subject to the terms of the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) and compliance with his noncompetition covenant, the applicable award agreement(s) and his Continuous Service (as defined in the Plan) through the applicable vesting date. In addition, the Transition Agreement includes a noncompetition covenant covering his term of employment through and until the 6 month anniversary thereafter.

As a non-employee director, Ms. Barrett will be entitled to receive compensation as a non-employee director under the Policy, as disclosed in the section “Director Compensation” set forth in the proxy statement for the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 22, 2026. While he is an employee of the Company and until the Company’s 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Mr. Waits will not be eligible to receive compensation under the Policy for his service as a member of the Board. The Board expects that Mr. Waits will be eligible to participate in the Policy effective as of the Company’s 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Director Indemnification

Each of Ms. Barrett and Mr. Waits will enter into the Company’s standard indemnification agreement for directors and officers, the form of which was filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016.

Board Leadership and Committee Composition

In connection with this Board reconfiguration, the Board appointed J. Benjamin Nye as Lead Independent Director, effective as of August 27, 2026. Mr. Nye succeeds Marc Brown, who will continue to serve as a director of the Company.

Effective as of September 1, 2026, the committees of the Board will be composed as follows:

Audit Committee:

Jeff Kalowski (Chair)
Judy Bruner
Maria Barrett

Compensation Committee:

Kevin Galligan (Chair)
Marc Brown
J. Benjamin Nye

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:

Marc Brown (Chair)
Judy Bruner
Jeff Kalowski
Maria Barrett

The Board affirmatively determined that each member of the foregoing committees satisfies the applicable eligibility requirements for service on such committee under the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and, in the case of the Audit Committee, Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Mr. Waits will not be appointed to any committees.




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.
Rapid7, Inc.
 Dated: August 31, 2026By:/s/ Rafeal E. Brown
Rafeal E. Brown
Chief Financial Officer


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