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Skillz (NYSE: SKLZ) names Robert Walsh CFO with performance-based pay

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Skillz Inc. has appointed Robert Alex Walsh as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective July 13, 2026, succeeding Gaetano Franceschi. Walsh, 41, brings prior CFO and senior finance experience from Aristocrat Gaming, LEGO and Procter & Gamble, and will serve as principal financial officer.

Under his offer letter, Walsh will receive a $450,000 annual base salary and annual target incentive compensation of $450,000, with a $400,000 target for 2026 tied to performance goals. He is eligible for $200,000 in restricted stock units vesting over three years and $200,000 in performance stock units vesting after a three-year performance period ending July 12, 2029, subject to company goals and continued service.

Outgoing CFO Gaetano Franceschi will step down around October 1, 2026 and remain in an advisory role from the effective date of Walsh’s appointment through September 30, 2026 to support a smooth transition.

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Insights

Skillz discloses an orderly CFO transition with performance-linked pay.

Skillz Inc. is installing Robert Alex Walsh as CFO in July 2026, while current CFO Gaetano Franceschi shifts to an advisory role through September 30, 2026. This staggered handover helps preserve continuity in financial leadership.

Walsh’s package combines a $450,000 base salary with annual incentive targets of up to $450,000 and equity grants. The mix of restricted stock units and performance stock units, each valued at $200,000, ties a meaningful portion of compensation to share performance and multi-year company goals.

He will participate in the company’s Executive Severance Plan, which is standard for senior roles. Future filings describing incentive goal achievement and any severance triggers will further clarify how this structure affects long-term pay outcomes and alignment with shareholders.

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, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
CFO base salary $450,000 per year Annual base salary for Robert Walsh as CFO
Annual incentive target $450,000 Target bonus; $400,000 for 2026 performance year
RSU grant value $200,000 Restricted stock units in fiscal 2026 vesting over three years
PSU grant value $200,000 Performance stock units with three-year performance period
CFO effective date July 13, 2026 Walsh begins role as Chief Financial Officer
Performance period end July 12, 2029 End of three-year PSU performance period
Advisory role end date September 30, 2026 Franceschi advisory period during CFO transition
Age of new CFO 41 years Age of Robert Alex Walsh at appointment disclosure
restricted stock unit financial
"eligible to receive a restricted stock unit award covering shares of the Company’s Class A common stock"
A restricted stock unit is a promise from a company to give an employee shares of stock after certain conditions are met, like staying with the company for a set amount of time. It’s like earning a bonus that turns into company stock once you’ve proven your commitment, making it a way to motivate and reward employees.
performance stock unit financial
"eligible to receive a performance stock unit award covering shares of the Company’s Class A common stock"
A performance stock unit is a type of reward companies give to employees, usually managers, that depends on how well the company performs over time. If the company hits specific goals, the employee earns shares of stock, like earning a prize for reaching certain levels in a game. It motivates employees to work hard because their rewards are tied to the company's success.
Executive Severance Plan financial
"Mr. Walsh will be subject to the Executive Severance Plan, subject to execution of a customary participation agreement"
principal financial officer financial
"As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Walsh will also be the Company’s principal financial officer"
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.
Transition and Separation Agreement financial
"with respect to that certain Transition and Separation Agreement, dated December 17, 2025"
A transition and separation agreement is a written contract that spells out the responsibilities, timeline and financial terms when an employee—often a senior executive—leaves a company and helps hand over their duties. It covers things like pay or severance, any short-term support to train successors, confidentiality and return of company property; investors care because these deals affect cash costs, leadership continuity and legal or operational risks during a change, much like a detailed handoff note that keeps a project running smoothly.
FALSE000180166100018016612026-05-172026-05-17

 
 
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 17, 2026
 
SKILLZ INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 001-39243 84-4478274
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 (Commission
File Number)
 (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
6625 Badura Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89118
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 762-0511
 
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
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share
 SKLZ NYSE
 
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 Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer
On May 17, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the appointment of Robert Alex Walsh, effective as of July 13, 2026 (the “Effective Date”), as the Chief Financial Officer of Skillz Inc. (the “Company”), succeeding Mr. Gaetano Franceschi in such role. Mr. Walsh, 41, has most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of Aristocrat Gaming (“Aristocrat”), the largest business segment of Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL), since December 2024. Prior to that, Mr. Walsh served as an SVP of Finance – American and EMEA at Aristocrat beginning in January 2022. Prior to that, he served as the Head of Finance for the Americas at The LEGO Group (“LEGO”), from March 2018 to January 2022 and Finance Director, Americas Retail from January 2016 to March 2018. Before LEGO, Mr. Walsh spent roughly eight years at The Procter & Gamble Company, moving progressively from financial analyst to manufacturing finance to brand finance to FP&A group director. Mr. Walsh received his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from Indiana University, and holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Xavier University. As Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Walsh will also be the Company’s principal financial officer.
Pursuant to an offer letter (the “Walsh Offer Letter”) that Mr. Walsh entered into with the Company and approved by the Board and the Compensation Committee of the Board on May 17, 2026, Mr. Walsh will be paid a base salary of $450,000 per year. Mr. Walsh will be eligible to receive annual target incentive compensation of $450,000 (which will be $400,000 for the 2026 performance year), subject to achievement of certain performance goals. Mr. Walsh will be eligible to receive a restricted stock unit award covering shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (the “RSUs”) with a grant date value equal to $200,000 during fiscal year 2026, which will vest 33% on the first anniversary of the start date and in 8 substantially equal quarterly installments thereafter, subject to Mr. Walsh’s continued service with the Company (“Service”), such that the RSUs will be fully vested after three years of Service following the date of grant. During fiscal year 2026, Mr. Walsh will also be eligible to receive a performance stock unit award covering shares of the Company’s Class A common stock with a grant date value equal to $200,000, which will vest at the end of a three-year performance period beginning on July 13, 2026 and continuing until July 12, 2029 (the “Performance Period”) subject to (i) achievement of Company goals consistent with the Company goals set annually by the Company during each of the three years during the Performance Period and (ii) Mr. Walsh’s continued Service with the Company through the end of the Performance Period. The foregoing description of the Walsh Offer Letter is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Walsh Offer Letter which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. Mr. Walsh will be subject to the Executive Severance Plan, subject to execution of a customary participation agreement.
There are no family relationships between Mr. Walsh and any of the directors or executive officers of the Company, and there are no transactions in which Mr. Walsh has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Walsh and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Walsh was appointed as an officer of the Company.
Departure of Gaetano Franceschi
As previously reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 23, 2026, Mr. Franceschi, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, entered into a side letter with respect to that certain Transition and Separation Agreement, dated December 17, 2025, described in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 18, 2025, pursuant to which Mr. Franceschi’s last day of employment with the Company (the “Departure Date”), was extended until (i) October 1, 2026 or (ii) a mutually agreed date following the Departure Date, at which time Mr. Franceschi will step down as Chief Financial Officer. In connection with the appointment of Mr. Walsh as our new Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Franceschi shall continue to provide services in an advisory capacity to the Company during the transition period beginning on the Effective Date through September 30, 2026.

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)Exhibits.
Exhibit NumberDescription
10.1
Offer Letter, dated May 17, 2026, between Skillz Inc. and Robert Alex Walsh
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the 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.
 
 SKILLZ INC.
   
 By:/s/ Todd A. Valli
 Name:Todd A. Valli
 Title:Chief Accounting Officer
 
Date: May 20, 2026
  

FAQ

Who is the new Chief Financial Officer of Skillz (SKLZ)?

Skillz appointed Robert Alex Walsh as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective July 13, 2026. Walsh previously served as CFO of Aristocrat Gaming and held senior finance roles at Aristocrat, LEGO and Procter & Gamble, bringing broad consumer and gaming finance experience to Skillz.

What is the compensation package for Skillz (SKLZ) CFO Robert Alex Walsh?

Walsh will receive a $450,000 annual base salary and annual target incentive compensation of $450,000, reduced to $400,000 for 2026. He is also eligible for $200,000 in restricted stock units and $200,000 in performance stock units, both tied to multi-year service and company goals.

When does Skillz (SKLZ) CFO transition from Gaetano Franceschi to Robert Walsh occur?

Robert Walsh becomes CFO on July 13, 2026, while outgoing CFO Gaetano Franceschi’s employment extends until around October 1, 2026. Franceschi will serve in an advisory capacity from the effective date of Walsh’s appointment through September 30, 2026 to support the transition.

How do Robert Walsh’s equity awards at Skillz (SKLZ) vest?

Walsh’s $200,000 restricted stock unit grant vests 33% on the first anniversary of his start date, then in eight equal quarterly installments, fully vesting after three years of service. A separate $200,000 performance stock unit award vests after a three-year performance period ending July 12, 2029.

What performance conditions apply to Skillz (SKLZ) CFO Robert Walsh’s performance stock units?

Walsh’s performance stock units, valued at $200,000, vest after a three-year period from July 13, 2026 to July 12, 2029. Vesting depends on achieving company goals aligned with annually set corporate objectives and Walsh’s continued service through the end of the performance period.

Is Skillz (SKLZ) CFO Robert Walsh covered by a severance plan?

Yes. Walsh will be subject to Skillz’s Executive Severance Plan once he signs a customary participation agreement. This plan typically outlines severance protections for executives in events like certain terminations, helping define financial outcomes if leadership changes occur.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents