Clear Secure president to exit, stay as $300K advisor

Clear Secure, Inc. (YOU) announced leadership changes, including a transition for its President and director, Michael Barkin, and the resignation of its EVP, Aviation, Kyle McLaughlin.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Clear Secure, Inc. (YOU) announced leadership changes, including a transition for its President and director, Michael Barkin, and the resignation of its EVP, Aviation, Kyle McLaughlin. On October 15, 2026, Barkin will step down as President and resign from the Board, moving into an advisory role.

Under a transition agreement dated September 15, 2026, Barkin will serve as an advisor through December 31, 2026 for an advisory fee of $300,000 per full month of service, subject to customary covenants and a general release of claims. On September 14, 2026, McLaughlin notified Clear of his intention to resign to pursue a new opportunity, with his last day on October 2, 2026, and the company has started a search for his successor. Both departures are stated not to involve any disagreement relating to Clear’s operations, policies, or practices.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• President and EVP, Aviation departing: Michael Barkin will leave his roles as President and director on October 15, 2026 and Kyle McLaughlin will leave as EVP, Aviation on October 2, 2026, representing multiple senior leadership changes in a short period.

8-K Event Classification

Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers

1 item

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.

Key Figures

Advisory fee: $300,000 per full month of service Advisory role end date: December 31, 2026 President and Board resignation date: October 15, 2026 +3 more

6 metrics

Advisory fee $300,000 per full month of service Payable to Michael Barkin in his advisory role through December 31, 2026

Advisory role end date December 31, 2026 End of Michael Barkin’s advisory period under the transition agreement

President and Board resignation date October 15, 2026 Effective date of Michael Barkin’s transition to advisory role and Board resignation

EVP, Aviation last day October 2, 2026 Last day of employment for Kyle McLaughlin as EVP, Aviation

Transition agreement date September 15, 2026 Date of Transition and Advisory Agreement with Michael Barkin

McLaughlin resignation notice date September 14, 2026 Date Kyle McLaughlin informed the company of his intent to resign

Key Terms

general release of claims, confidentiality, intellectual property protection covenants, emerging growth company

4 terms

general release of claims regulatory

"and a general release of claims"

confidentiality regulatory

"contains customary representations and warranties, as well as confidentiality"

Confidentiality is the practice of keeping private information—such as business plans, financial data, personnel matters, or trade secrets—restricted to a limited group rather than shared publicly. For investors it matters because breaches can change a company’s competitive edge, trigger legal or regulatory problems, or move markets if sensitive information becomes public; think of it as a lockbox that protects value and reduces unexpected risk.

intellectual property protection covenants regulatory

"and intellectual property protection covenants"

emerging growth company regulatory

"405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Emerging growth company"

An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What leadership changes did Clear Secure, Inc. (YOU) announce?

Clear Secure disclosed that President and director Michael Barkin will transition to an advisory role and resign from the Board effective October 15, 2026, and that EVP, Aviation Kyle McLaughlin will resign with a last day of October 2, 2026.

How long will Michael Barkin remain with Clear Secure (YOU) and on what terms?

Michael Barkin agreed to serve as an advisor to Clear Secure until December 31, 2026, receiving an advisory fee of $300,000 per full month of service, under a transition agreement that includes representations, confidentiality, IP protection covenants, and a general release of claims.

Does Michael Barkin’s resignation from Clear Secure’s Board involve any disagreement?

The company states that Michael Barkin’s resignation from the Board, effective October 15, 2026, does not involve a disagreement on any matter relating to Clear Secure’s operations, policies, or practices.

Why is Kyle McLaughlin leaving Clear Secure (YOU) and when is his last day?

Kyle McLaughlin notified Clear Secure on September 14, 2026 of his intention to resign as EVP, Aviation to pursue a new opportunity. His last day with the company will be October 2, 2026, and his resignation is also stated not to involve any disagreement.

Is Clear Secure (YOU) searching for a replacement for the EVP, Aviation role?

Yes. Following Kyle McLaughlin’s notice of resignation as EVP, Aviation, Clear Secure reports that it has initiated a search for his successor to fill the role after his last day on October 2, 2026.

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

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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 14, 2026

CLEAR SECURE, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-40568		86-2643981
(State of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

85 10th Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10011

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(646) 723-1404

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(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 $0.00001 per share		YOU		New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

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.

On September 15, 2026, Clear Secure, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an agreement with Michael Barkin, the Company’s President and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), pursuant to which Mr. Barkin will transition to an advisory role on October 15, 2026. In addition, effective October 15, 2026, Mr. Barkin will resign from the Board in accordance with his employment agreement. Mr. Barkin’s resignation from the Board does not involve a disagreement on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

Mr. Barkin has been an impactful partner to CLEAR over the past seven years with significant contributions during pivotal moments of growth as well as oversight of key initiatives. In his CLEAR advisory role, Mr. Barkin will continue to support CLEAR’s leadership and champion CLEAR’s mission. The Company is grateful for Mr. Barkin’s dedication and service to the Company.

Pursuant to the transition agreement, Mr. Barkin has agreed to remain in the advisory role until December 31, 2026, for an advisory fee of $300,000 per full month of service. The agreement contains customary representations and warranties, as well as confidentiality and intellectual property protection covenants and a general release of claims. The foregoing summary of the agreement is qualified by reference to the complete text of the Transition and Advisory Agreement dated September 15, 2026, a copy of which will be filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

In addition, on September 14, 2026, Kyle McLaughlin notified the Company of his intention to resign from his role as EVP, Aviation to pursue a new opportunity. Mr. McLaughlin’s resignation does not involve a disagreement on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company is appreciative of Mr. McLaughlin’s contributions during his tenure. Mr. McLaughlin’s last day will be October 2, 2026. The Company has initiated a search for his successor.

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. 

	CLEAR SECURE, INC.
Date: September 16, 2026	By:	/s/ Caryn Seidman Becker
		Name:	Caryn Seidman Becker
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

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Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL SCHEMA FILE 2.9 KB
• EX-101 XBRL LABEL FILE 33.4 KB
• EX-101 XBRL PRESENTATION FILE 21.8 KB