New CEO and CFO step in at Solésence (NASDAQ: SLSN) as Jankowski plans retirement

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Solésence, Inc. announced leadership changes alongside new employment agreements for its top executives. Kevin Cureton, age 64, who has been Chief Operating Officer since 2019, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and President, effective September 3, 2025. Former CEO and CFO Jess Jankowski will transition to serve as Board Advisor until his planned retirement on November 21, 2025.

Laura Riffner, age 53, was appointed Chief Financial Officer as of September 3, 2025. She brings prior CFO and finance leadership experience from Nagase America and Paxton/Patterson, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Under their agreements, Mr. Cureton’s annual base salary will be not less than $367,000, Mr. Jankowski’s transition salary will be not less than $366,912 through retirement, and Ms. Riffner’s annual base salary will be not less than $270,000, with Cureton and Riffner eligible for bonuses and stock option grants under the company’s equity plan.

Insights

Corporate governance and executive compensation analyst

Solésence installs a new CEO and CFO with defined pay packages while the former CEO moves into an advisory role until retirement.

Solésence, Inc. is implementing a leadership transition by elevating longtime COO Kevin Cureton to Chief Executive Officer and President and appointing Laura Riffner as Chief Financial Officer, both effective September 3, 2025. Former CEO and CFO Jess Jankowski remains involved as a Board Advisor until his retirement on November 21, 2025, which can help maintain continuity during the handover.

The agreements set base salaries of $367,000 for Cureton, $270,000 for Riffner, and $366,912 for Jankowski during his transition period, with Cureton and Riffner eligible for bonuses and stock option grants under the equity compensation plan. These figures outline the fixed cash cost of the new structure, while the equity components link part of the new leaders’ compensation to future company performance as specified by the plan.

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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): September 3, 2025

SOLÉSENCE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-22333	36-3687863
(State or other	(Commission	(IRS Employer
jurisdiction of	File Number)	Identification No.)
incorporation)

1319 Marquette Drive

Romeoville, Illinois 60446

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(630) 771-6708

(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 Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share	SLSN	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. 

On September 3, 2025, Solésence, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an (i) Employment Agreement (the “Cureton Employment Amendment”) with Kevin Cureton, (ii) Transition Employment Agreement (the “Jankowski Employment Amendment”) with Jess Jankowski, and (iii) Employment Agreement (the “Riffner Employment Amendment” and together with the Cureton Employment Agreement and the Jankowski Employment Agreement, the “Employment Agreements”) with Laura Riffner. In connection with the Employment Agreements, Kevin Cureton, age 64, who has served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company since 2019, was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. Jess Jankowski, who previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, will serve as Board Advisor to the Company through his retirement on November 21, 2025, and Laura Riffner will serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in each case effective as of September 3, 2025. Ms. Riffner, age 53, previously served as Chief Financial Officer and then as Chief Finance and Strategy Officer at Nagase America, a distributor and manufacturer of specialty chemicals. She also was previously the Chief Financial Officer at Paxton/Patterson. Ms. Riffner holds a B.A. from Benedictine University in international business and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Pursuant to the Cureton Employment Agreement, Mr. Cureton will receive an annual base salary of not less than $367,000 and shall be eligible for bonuses and stock option grants under the Company’s Equity Compensation Plan. Pursuant to the Riffner Employment Agreement, Ms. Riffner will receive an annual base salary of not less than $270,000 and shall be eligible for bonuses and stock option grants under the Company’s Equity Compensation Plan. Pursuant to the Jankowski Employment Agreement, Mr. Jankowski will receive an annual base salary of not less than $366,912.00 through his retirement on November 21, 2025.

The description of the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Employment Agreements, which are filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

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

Item 1.01 of this current report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 5.02.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
10.1		Kevin Cureton Employment Agreement, dated September 3, 2025.
10.2		Jess Jankowski Transition Employment Agreement, dated September 3, 2025.
10.3		Laura Riffner Employment Agreement, dated September 3, 2025.
99.1		Press Release, dated September 3, 2025.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within 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.

Dated: September 3, 2025

	SOLÉSENCE, INC.
	By:	/s/ KEVIN CURETON
		Name: Kevin Cureton
		Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

FAQ

What executive leadership changes did Solésence (SLSN) announce?

Solésence appointed Kevin Cureton, previously Chief Operating Officer, as Chief Executive Officer and President, and named Laura Riffner as Chief Financial Officer, both effective September 3, 2025. Former CEO and CFO Jess Jankowski will serve as Board Advisor until his retirement on November 21, 2025.

What are the new CEO and CFO base salaries at Solésence?

Under their employment agreements, Kevin Cureton will receive an annual base salary of not less than $367,000, and Laura Riffner will receive an annual base salary of not less than $270,000. Both are also eligible for bonuses and stock option grants under Solésence’s Equity Compensation Plan.

What is Jess Jankowski’s role and compensation during his transition at Solésence (SLSN)?

Jess Jankowski, formerly CEO and CFO, will serve as a Board Advisor through his retirement on November 21, 2025. Under his transition employment agreement, he will receive an annual base salary of not less than $366,912 during this period.

What is the background of Solésence’s new CFO, Laura Riffner?

Laura Riffner previously served as Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Finance and Strategy Officer at Nagase America, a specialty chemicals distributor and manufacturer, and was also CFO at Paxton/Patterson. She holds a B.A. in international business from Benedictine University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Are Solésence’s new executives eligible for equity-based compensation?

Yes. Under their employment agreements, both Kevin Cureton and Laura Riffner are eligible for bonuses and stock option grants under Solésence’s Equity Compensation Plan, in addition to their stated base salaries.

When will the leadership transition at Solésence be complete?

The appointments of Kevin Cureton as CEO and President and Laura Riffner as CFO were effective on September 3, 2025. Jess Jankowski is expected to retire on November 21, 2025, after serving as Board Advisor until that date.