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Tantech Holdings (TANH) appoints co-CEO, co-CFO and reshapes its board

(Neutral)
(Neutral)
Form Type
6-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Tantech Holdings Ltd restructured its board and senior management effective August 2, 2026. Directors Weilin Zhang and Hongdao Qian resigned, with both departures stated as not arising from any disagreement regarding the company’s operations, policies, or practices.

The remaining board members elected Yongxin Su as a director and Co-Chief Executive Officer and Bihua Liu as a director and Co-Chief Financial Officer, each serving terms expiring at the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders. Lei Yao was appointed independent director and chair of the nominating committee through the 2026 annual meeting, and Shipu Huang became an independent Class I director with a term through the 2028 annual meeting. The company highlights Su’s AI and high-performance computing background, Liu’s long corporate finance experience, Yao’s banking and management background, and Huang’s IT services and operations experience.

Positive

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Negative

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Effective date of resignations and appointments August 2, 2026 Date on which director resignations and new board and officer appointments took effect
Term end for Class III directors 2027 annual meeting of shareholders End of terms for Class III directors including Yongxin Su and Bihua Liu
Term end for Lei Yao 2026 annual meeting of shareholders End of the remaining term for independent director Lei Yao
Term end for Class I director 2028 annual meeting of shareholders End of the term for independent Class I director Shipu Huang
independent director regulatory
"Mr. Huang was elected as an independent director by the remaining members"
An independent director is a member of a company's board of directors who is not involved in the company's day-to-day operations and has no significant relationships with the company that could influence their judgment. Their role is to provide unbiased oversight and ensure the company is managed in the best interests of all shareholders. This helps build trust and confidence among investors by promoting transparency and accountability.
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) regulatory
"The Board has determined that Mr. Yao satisfies the independence requirements of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2)"
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) sets the criteria Nasdaq uses to decide whether a company’s board members are independent, listing examples of relationships or ties that would disqualify a director from being considered independent. Investors care because a board with genuinely independent directors acts like an impartial referee overseeing management decisions, reducing conflicts of interest and improving the chance that shareholder interests are protected and corporate decisions are scrutinized effectively.
nominating committee regulatory
"resigned as an independent director and the chair of the nominating committee of the Board"
A nominating committee is a small group of company directors tasked with finding, evaluating and recommending people to serve on the board. Think of it as a hiring panel that chooses the team responsible for guiding the business and holding management accountable. Investors care because the committee’s choices shape the board’s experience, independence and judgment, which directly affect strategy, oversight, leadership succession and the protection of shareholder interests.
Class III director regulatory
"Mr. Su was designated as a Class III director and will serve a term"
A Class III director is a board member placed in one of the numbered groups used by companies with a staggered (or “classified”) board; that director’s seat typically comes up for election in the third year of a three-year rotation. For investors this matters because staggered terms create continuity but also make it harder to replace the whole board quickly, affecting shareholder influence, takeover dynamics and how fast new strategy or accountability can be implemented — like replacing only some players on a sports team each season instead of the whole roster at once.
foreign private issuer regulatory
"REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16"
A foreign private issuer is a company organized outside the United States that meets tests showing it is primarily foreign-controlled and therefore qualifies for a different set of U.S. reporting rules. For investors, that means the company files less frequent or differently formatted disclosures with U.S. regulators and may follow home-country accounting and governance practices, so buying its stock is like dining at a well-reviewed restaurant that follows its home kitchen’s rules instead of the local menu — you get access but should check what standards apply.

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

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FAQ

What board changes did Tantech Holdings (TANH) implement on August 2, 2026?

On August 2, 2026, Tantech accepted the resignations of directors Weilin Zhang and Hongdao Qian and elected four new directors. The new directors also assumed roles including Co-CEO, Co-CFO, and chair of the nominating committee.

Who became Co-Chief Executive Officer of Tantech Holdings (TANH)?

Yongxin Su was elected director and Co-Chief Executive Officer. He was designated a Class III director with a term expiring at the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders, bringing experience in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Who is the new Co-Chief Financial Officer at Tantech Holdings (TANH)?

Bihua Liu was elected director and Co-Chief Financial Officer, filling the vacancy from Weilin Zhang’s resignation. She will serve the remainder of Zhang’s term through the 2027 annual meeting, with more than two decades of corporate financial management experience.

Which Tantech Holdings (TANH) directors are considered independent under Nasdaq rules?

Lei Yao and Shipu Huang were elected as independent directors. The board determined that each satisfies the independence requirements of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2), with Yao also serving as chair of the nominating committee.

Did the resignations of directors at Tantech Holdings (TANH) involve any disagreement?

The company states that the resignations of Weilin Zhang and Hongdao Qian were not due to any disagreement regarding operations, policies, or practices, indicating they were not linked to disclosed disputes over company matters.

What are the terms of office for the new Tantech Holdings (TANH) directors?

Yongxin Su and Bihua Liu serve until the 2027 annual meeting, Lei Yao until the 2026 annual meeting, and Shipu Huang, a Class I director, until the 2028 annual meeting of shareholders, or until successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of August 2026

 

Commission File Number: 001-36885

 

TANTECH HOLDINGS LTD

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

No. 10 Cen Shan Road, Shuige Industrial Zone

Lishui City, Zhejiang Province

People’s Republic of China 323000 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F ☒     Form 40-F ☐

 

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

Change of Directors

 

Effective August 2, 2026, Mr. Weilin Zhang resigned as a director of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Tantech Holdings Ltd (the “Company” or the “Registrant”). The resignation of Mr. Zhang was not a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter related to the operations, policies, or practices of the Company.

 

Effective August 2, 2026, Mr. Hongdao Qian resigned as an independent director and the chair of the nominating committee of the Board of the Company. The resignation of Mr. Qian was not a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter related to the operations, policies, or practices of the Company.

 

Effective August 2, 2026, Mr. Yongxin Su was elected as a director and the Co-Chief Executive Officer by the remaining members of the Board. Mr. Su was designated as a Class III director and will serve a term expiring at the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

Effective August 2, 2026, Ms. Bihua Liu was elected as a director and the Co-Chief Financial Officer by the remaining members of the Board to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Mr. Zhang. Ms. Liu will serve for the remainder of Mr. Zhang's term, which is scheduled to expire at the Company's 2027 annual meeting of shareholders, or until her successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

Effective August 2, 2026, Mr. Lei Yao was elected as an independent director and the chair of the nominating committee of the Board of the Company by the remaining members of the Board to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Mr. Qian. Mr. Yao will serve for the remainder of Mr. Qian's term, which is scheduled to expire at the Company's 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, or until her successor is duly elected and qualified. The Board has determined that Mr. Yao satisfies the independence requirements of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and qualifies as an independent director.

 

Effective August 2, 2026, Mr. Shipu Huang was elected as an independent director by the remaining members of the Board. Mr. Huang was designated as a Class I director and will serve a term expiring at the 2028 annual meeting of shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified. The Board has determined that Mr. Huang satisfies the independence requirements of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and qualifies as an independent director.

 

Mr. Yongxin Su is an experienced technology professional specializing in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and intelligent computing platform development. Since August 2023, he has been serving as the Technical Director of Shenzhen Huazi Supercomputing Technology Co., Ltd. From July 2020 to July 2023, Mr. Su served as an Algorithm Engineer at Shenzhen Jiexi Technology Co., Ltd., where he was responsible for the company's technology R&D system development and product technology planning. Mr. Su holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Security from Tianjin University of Technology.

 

Ms. Bihua Liu is a finance professional with extensive experience in corporate financial management spanning over two decades. She currently serves as the Head of Dalun Enterprise, a position she has held since February 2026. From October 2022 to August 2024, Ms. Liu served as the Chief Financial Officer of Yingke Co., Ltd. Prior to that, from October 1997 to September 2022, she served as the Chief Financial Officer of Santongjin Co., Ltd. Ms. Liu holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Chongyou College of Business Management.

 

Mr. Lei Yao is a seasoned financial services professional with extensive experience in banking and business management. He currently serves as the Chairman of Weihai Qianhao Ocean Technology Co., Ltd., a position he has held since September 2025.  Since May 2021, Mr. Yao has also been serving as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dalian GuangXuYuan Sea Delicacies Co., Ltd. From June 2014 to November 2022, he served as a Senior Client Manager at the Agricultural Bank of China Zhongshan Sub-branch. From February 2009 to June 2014, Mr. Yao served as Branch President of the Agricultural Bank of China City Plaza Sub-branch. From September 2006 to February 2009, he served as Branch President of the Agricultural Bank of China Dalian Tianjin Street Sub-branch. Mr. Yao holds an associate degree in Finance from the Agricultural Bank of China Financial Cadre Management Institute.

 

Mr. Huang Shipu is a technology management professional with experience in IT services and corporate operations. From January 2020 to March 2026, he served as the General Manager of Chengdu Dinggu Technology Co., Ltd. In this position, he was responsible for the company's strategic planning, daily operations, and team management, driving business expansion in the IT services sector and improving operational efficiency. Mr. Huang holds an associate's degree in Engineering from Chongqing Information Technology College.

 

 
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SIGNATURE

 

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, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Tantech Holdings Ltd

 

 

 

 

 

Date: August 5, 2026

By:

/s/ Zheyuan Liu

 

 

 

Zheyuan Liu

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 
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