Skyward Specialty (SKWD) details 2027 CFO succession timeline
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (SKWD) reported a planned CFO transition. Chief Financial Officer Mark Haushill has notified the company of his intention to retire effective March 31, 2027. From March 31, 2027 through December 31, 2027, he will serve as Senior Advisor under a Senior Advisor Letter Agreement, receiving an annualized base salary of $250,000 without eligibility for bonuses or new equity awards, while existing equity awards continue to vest under their ordinary terms. The company states his retirement decision did not result from any disagreement regarding operations, policies, or practices.
Taryn McHarg, currently Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the company and Chief Financial Officer of Apollo, will become CFO effective upon Haushill’s retirement and will also serve as Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer. Under her existing employment terms, she receives an annual base salary of approximately $540,000 (£400,000), with a target bonus opportunity of 20% to 60% of base salary, and holds a $1,750,000 restricted stock unit award granted in connection with the Apollo acquisition, vesting in two tranches on the third and fourth anniversaries of closing. Her compensation as CFO is expected to be reviewed in the first quarter of 2027.
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Filing Explained
The planned CFO succession will also place the Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer roles with Taryn McHarg when Mark Haushill retires on
8-K Event Classification
3 items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
3 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 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Senior Advisor annualized base salary: $250,000
Incoming CFO base salary: approximately $540,000 (£400,000)
Target bonus opportunity: 20% to 60% of base salary
+5 more
8 metrics
Senior Advisor annualized base salary
$250,000
Compensation for Mark Haushill during Advisory Period March 31, 2027–December 31, 2027
Incoming CFO base salary
approximately $540,000 (£400,000)
Current annual base salary for Taryn McHarg under existing employment agreement
Target bonus opportunity
20% to 60% of base salary
Bonus range for Taryn McHarg, subject to conditions
Restricted stock unit award
$1,750,000
RSU award to Taryn McHarg in connection with Apollo acquisition
RSU vesting schedule
50% on third anniversary, 50% on fourth anniversary of closing
Vesting terms for McHarg’s $1,750,000 RSU award
CFO retirement effective date
March 31, 2027
Effective retirement date for CFO Mark Haushill
Advisory Period end date
December 31, 2027
End of Senior Advisor role for Mark Haushill
Age of incoming CFO
48
Age of Taryn McHarg at time of disclosure
Key Terms
Senior Advisor Letter Agreement, restricted stock unit award, Principal Financial Officer, Regulation FD Disclosure, +1 more
5 terms
Senior Advisor Letter Agreement financial
"the Company entered into a Senior Advisor Letter Agreement, dated August 19, 2026"
restricted stock unit award financial
"received a restricted stock unit award with a value of $1,750,000"
A restricted stock unit award is a promise by a company to give an employee a specified number of company shares at a future date if certain conditions are met, such as staying with the company or hitting performance goals. For investors, these awards matter because they can increase the total number of shares outstanding when converted, diluting existing holders, and they align employees’ incentives with shareholders’ interests much like giving a rising bonus that becomes real only after conditions are satisfied.
Principal Financial Officer financial
"McHarg will also serve as Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting 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.
Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory
"Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure. On August 20, 2026, the Company issued a press release"
Regulation FD disclosure requires public companies to share important, market-moving information with everyone at the same time instead of tipping off analysts or large investors first. Think of it as making sure all players on a field hear the same announcement simultaneously; that fairness helps investors trust that stock prices reflect the same information and reduces the risk of sudden, unfair trading advantages or regulatory penalties for selective leaks.
Short Term Incentive Plan financial
"will not be eligible to earn an annual bonus or otherwise participate in the Company’s Short Term Incentive Plan"
FAQ
When will SKWD’s current CFO, Mark Haushill, retire and what is his post-retirement role?
Mark Haushill will retire as CFO on March 31, 2027. From March 31, 2027 through December 31, 2027 he will serve as Senior Advisor, receiving a $250,000 annualized base salary and continuing vesting of existing equity awards.
Who will become Chief Financial Officer of Skyward Specialty Insurance Group (SKWD)?
Taryn McHarg will become CFO effective upon Mark Haushill’s retirement. She is currently Deputy CFO of the company and CFO of Apollo, bringing over two decades of global insurance and financial services experience across Australia, the UK, Asia and the U.S.
What are the key compensation terms for incoming CFO Taryn McHarg at SKWD?
Under her current agreement, Taryn McHarg receives an annual base salary of about $540,000 (£400,000) and has a target bonus opportunity of 20%–60% of base salary. She also holds a $1,750,000 restricted stock unit award tied to the Apollo acquisition.
How and when do Taryn McHarg’s restricted stock units at SKWD vest?
Taryn McHarg’s $1,750,000 restricted stock unit award vests 50% on the third anniversary of the Apollo acquisition closing and 50% on the fourth anniversary. The award was granted as part of a management incentive plan for Apollo executives.
What roles will Taryn McHarg hold at SKWD after the CFO transition?
Upon effectiveness of her appointment, Taryn McHarg will serve as Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer, and Principal Accounting Officer of Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc., succeeding retiring CFO Mark Haushill.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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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 20, 2026 (August 17, 2026)
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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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: | ||||||||
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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. o
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On August 17, 2026, Mark Haushill, Chief Financial Officer of Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (the "Company"), notified the Company of his intention to retire, effective March 31, 2027. In connection with his notification of his intent to retire, the Company entered into a Senior Advisor Letter Agreement, dated August 19, 2026, with Mr. Haushill (the “Advisor Agreement”). The Advisor Agreement provides that, from March 31, 2027, through December 31, 2027 (the “Advisory Period”), Mr. Haushill will serve as Senior Advisor to the Company providing ongoing support and such advisory services as may reasonably be requested from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer. During the Advisory Period, Mr. Haushill will receive an annualized base salary of $250,000. During the Advisory Period, Mr. Haushill will not be eligible to earn an annual bonus or otherwise participate in the Company’s Short Term Incentive Plan (commencing with the 2027 plan year) and will not be eligible to receive any new equity awards. Mr. Haushill will remain eligible for continued vesting of outstanding equity awards in accordance with the ordinary terms of such equity grants and our equity incentive plans and our form executive employment agreement (the "Executive Agreement”) to which he is a party.
Mr. Haushill’s decision to retire did not result from any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices.
The foregoing descriptions of the Executive Agreement and the Advisor Agreement do not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreement. A copy of the Executive Agreement was filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2026 on May 11, 2026. The Company intends to file a copy of the Advisor Agreement which will be filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2026.
On August 20, 2026, the Company announced the appointment of Taryn McHarg, Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Chief Financial Officer of Apollo, as Chief Financial Officer, effective upon Mr. Haushill’s retirement. Ms. McHarg will also serve as Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer at the effective time of her appointment.
Ms. McHarg, age 48, joined the Company in her current role in January 2026 following the Company’s acquisition of Apollo Group Holdings Limited. Ms. McHarg joined Apollo in May 2022 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Apollo, Ms. McHarg served as Chief Financial Officer of various divisions of Bupa, a private medical insurer, from September 2016 through December 2021. Ms. McHarg brings more than two decades of global insurance and financial services experience across markets, including Australia, UK, Asia and the U.S., with a focus on driving operational performance through financial insights. Ms. McHarg is a Chartered Accountant (Fellow) of Australia & New Zealand and holds an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management (University of NSW).
Pursuant to her existing employment agreement, Ms. McHarg receives an annual base salary of approximately $540,000 (£400,000) and has a target bonus opportunity of 20% to 60% of her base salary, subject to satisfying certain conditions. In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Apollo, Ms. McHarg received a restricted stock unit award with a value of $1,750,000 as part of the management incentive plan arrangement with the Apollo executives, which award vests 50% on the third anniversary of the closing and 50% on the 4th anniversary of the closing. Ms. McHarg will be eligible to receive equity awards in accordance with the ordinary terms of our equity incentive plans. The Company intends that Ms. McHarg’s compensation, including her compensation to be paid as Chief Financial Officer, will be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in the ordinary course of the Compensation Committee’s annual review of executive compensation expected to occur in the first quarter of 2027.
The Company intends to file Ms. McHarg’s form employment agreement as an exhibit to its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 and the foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to such agreement.
There are no offers or understandings between Ms. McHarg and any other person pursuant to which she was appointed. There are no family relationships between Ms. McHarg and any director or executive officer, and no related party transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On August 20, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Haushill’s retirement as Chief Financial Officer, effective March 31, 2027, and Ms. McHarg’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer effective upon Mr. Haushill’s resignation. A copy of the press released is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibits | ||||||||||
10.1 | Form of Executive Employment Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2026). | ||||||||||
99.1 | Press Release, dated August 20, 2026. | ||||||||||
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | ||||||||||
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SKYWARD SPECIALTY INSURANCE GROUP, INC. | ||||||||||||||
Date: | August 20, 2026 | /s/ Patricia A. Ryan | ||||||||||||
Patricia A. Ryan | ||||||||||||||
Chief Legal Officer | ||||||||||||||
EXHIBIT 99.1
SKYWARD GROUP ANNOUNCES CFO
TRANSITION EFFECTIVE MARCH 31, 2027
HOUSTON, TX – [August 20, 2026] – Skyward Group (Nasdaq: SKWD) (“the Group” or “the Company”), the specialty insurance organization whose operating businesses include Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.® (“Skyward Specialty”) and Apollo Group Holdings Ltd. (“Apollo”), announced the planned succession of its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mark Haushill, Skyward Group CFO, has informed the Company of his intention to retire effective March 31, 2027, after a distinguished career with the Company. To support a seamless transition, Mark will continue serving as a Senior Advisor to the Company through the end of 2027. Taryn McHarg, CFO of Apollo and Skyward Group Deputy CFO, will step in as his successor upon his retirement.
Haushill’s retirement comes after a multi-year transformation of the Company into a market leading specialty insurer. During his more than 10 years with Skyward, Haushill has led the Company through several significant financial milestones, including a successful IPO in 2023, a step-change improvement in the company’s capital structure and strength including its financial rating by AM Best, as well as the acquisition of Apollo that closed in January 2026.
Skyward Group CEO Andrew Robinson said, “Mark has been an exceptional partner and a pillar in Skyward’s journey and success. His friendship, spirit, and genuine caring for the Skyward team is palpable, and his impact will be felt for years to come. I speak for our entire organization and the Skyward Board in thanking Mark and expressing our deep gratitude for his contributions and the lasting impact he has had on our organization.”
“At the same time, we are excited to have Taryn step into this role.” Robinson continued. “Taryn is a deeply experienced and skilled executive, whose instincts and expertise will be invaluable to our success as we take the next turn in the Skyward Group journey.”
McHarg brings a strong combination of financial leadership, strategic perspective, operational experience, and industry insight and knowledge. McHarg has been CFO at Apollo for more than four years and previously spent nine years at BUPA, one of the largest non-US private healthcare insurers, where she progressed to be the CFO of international markets; McHarg’s career also included seven years at Ernst & Young.
McHarg commented, “I am honored to take on this role at such an important point in Skyward Group’s evolution. The combination of Skyward Specialty and Apollo has created a stronger, more diversified organization with significant strategic opportunities ahead. I look forward to working with our teams to build on the strong foundation Mark and the broader finance organization have established and to continue delivering long-term value for our shareholders.”
Robinson also commented, “Our thoughtful transition of the CFO to such a high-quality internal successor in Taryn reflects the strength of our executive talent and our commitment to building a company for the long term.”
About Skyward Group
Skyward Group (Nasdaq: SKWD) is the holding company brand for its U.S. and U.K. businesses, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.® and Apollo Holding Group, respectively, delivering a comprehensive suite of specialized insurance solutions across global specialty property and casualty markets. Focused on the specialty industry’s most niche, complex risks of today and the emerging challenges of tomorrow, Skyward Group leverages the forward-looking insight and disciplined execution of each organization to drive sustainable growth and long-term value for its shareholders, distribution
partners and other stakeholders. For more information about Skyward Group, Skyward Specialty and Apollo, please visit skywardgroup.com.
Media Contact
Haley Doughty
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
713-935-4944
hdoughty@skywardinsurance.com
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
713-935-4944
hdoughty@skywardinsurance.com
Investor Contact
Jordan Arnold
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
346-215-0250
346-215-0250
jarnold@skywardinsurance.com