8-K: FOXO Technologies Appoints New CFO Amid Resignation Concerns

Sentiment:

Executive Change


FOXO Technologies Inc. announced the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer, Sylwia Nowak Hauman, who cited concerns over internal controls, and the immediate appointment of Celene Laurene Rattray Grant as her successor.

Worse than expectedThe resignation of a Chief Financial Officer is generally a negative event.The former CFO explicitly cited concerns regarding internal control environment, financial reporting processes, and finance team resourcing, which are serious allegations.

Summary

  • Sylwia Nowak Hauman resigned from her position as Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of FOXO Technologies Inc. on March 18, 2026.
  • Ms. Hauman's resignation letter cited concerns regarding the Company's internal control environment, financial reporting processes, and the resourcing of the finance and accounting team.
  • The Company respectfully disagreed with Ms. Hauman's characterizations, stating its internal controls, reporting processes, and staffing are adequate and have been significantly improved under current management.
  • Celene Laurene Rattray Grant (age 44) was appointed as the Company's Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) on March 24, 2026.
  • Ms. Grant is a Certified Public Accountant with over 15 years of experience in financial management, business leadership, and corporate strategy, with particular expertise in the healthcare industry.
  • Ms. Grant previously served as a consultant for the Company's predecessor from April 2018 to June 2021, and later returned to FOXO Technologies as a consultant from April 2024 through November 2025, where she played a key role in returning the Company to good standing with its SEC reporting obligations.
  • Her compensation includes an annual base salary of $200,000 and eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus of up to $25,000.

Sentiment

Score: 4

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a moderately negative development due to the former CFO's stated concerns, which overshadow the positive aspects of the new CFO's appointment, despite the company's rebuttal.

Positives

  • Appointment of Celene Laurene Rattray Grant, a Certified Public Accountant with over 15 years of experience in financial management and corporate strategy, particularly in the healthcare industry.
  • Ms. Grant has a proven track record with FOXO Technologies, having previously played a key role in returning the Company to good standing with its SEC reporting obligations from April 2024 through November 2025.
  • The Company's management expressed a commitment to maintaining strong internal controls and fulfilling its reporting obligations in a timely manner, specifically mentioning the upcoming 10-K filing.

Negatives

  • Resignation of Chief Financial Officer Sylwia Nowak Hauman.
  • Ms. Hauman's stated reasons for resignation included concerns regarding the Company's internal control environment, financial reporting processes, and the resourcing of the finance and accounting team.

Risks

  • Concerns regarding the Company's internal control environment, as cited by the former CFO.
  • Concerns regarding the Company's financial reporting processes, as cited by the former CFO.
  • Concerns regarding the resourcing of the finance and accounting team, as cited by the former CFO.

Future Outlook

The Company is committed to maintaining strong internal controls and fulfilling its reporting obligations in a timely manner, with a specific aim to file the upcoming 10-K on schedule.

Management Comments

  • "The Company respectfully disagrees with the characterizations in Ms. Hauman's resignation letter and believes the Company's internal controls, reporting processes and staffing are adequate and have been significantly improved under current management."
  • "The Company remains committed to maintaining strong internal controls and fulfilling its reporting obligations in a timely manner as will be demonstrated by filing the upcoming 10-K timely."

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that CFO resignations, especially those citing concerns over internal controls and financial reporting, often raise red flags for investors regarding corporate governance and financial transparency. The swift appointment of a new CFO with a strong background in SEC reporting compliance, particularly one who has previously assisted the company in this area, suggests a proactive effort by FOXO Technologies to address these concerns and stabilize its financial leadership.

Management Changes

RolePrevious PersonNew PersonEffective DateReason
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)Sylwia Nowak HaumanCelene Laurene Rattray Grant2026-03-24Resignation of previous CFO citing concerns over internal control environment, financial reporting processes, and finance team resourcing; appointment of new CFO.

Stakeholder Impact

  • Shareholders: Potential concern over financial reporting integrity and internal controls, but also reassurance from the company's commitment and the new CFO's experience in SEC compliance.
  • Employees: Potential impact on morale within the finance and accounting team due to resourcing concerns and leadership change.
  • Regulatory Authorities: Increased scrutiny on the company's internal controls and financial reporting processes following the former CFO's allegations.

Next Steps

  • Filing of the upcoming 10-K report in a timely manner.

Key Dates

DateDescription
2018-04-01Celene Grant began engagement with the Company's predecessor as a consultant Financial Controller.
2021-06-01Celene Grant concluded her role as consultant Financial Controller for the Company's predecessor and joined Certified Foot and Ankle Specialists as Chief Accounting Officer.
2024-02-01Celene Grant concluded her role as Chief Accounting Officer at Certified Foot and Ankle Specialists.
2024-04-01Celene Grant returned to FOXO Technologies as a consultant, playing a key role in returning the Company to good standing with its SEC reporting obligations.
2025-11-01Celene Grant concluded her consultant role at FOXO Technologies and began engagement with Rennova Health Inc.
2026-03-18Sylwia Nowak Hauman resigned from her position as Chief Financial Officer of FOXO Technologies Inc.
2026-03-24Celene Laurene Rattray Grant was appointed as the Company's Chief Financial Officer.

Recommendation

hold

The resignation of a CFO citing concerns about internal controls and financial reporting is a significant negative signal that warrants caution. While the company disputes these claims and has appointed an experienced replacement with a history of improving SEC compliance, the underlying issues raised by the former CFO create uncertainty. Investors should hold to monitor the company's upcoming 10-K filing and subsequent financial disclosures to assess if the stated concerns are being effectively addressed and if the new management can restore confidence in the company's financial integrity.

Keywords

FOXO Technologies, CFO resignation, CFO appointment, financial reporting, internal controls, corporate governance, SEC filing, executive change, Celene Grant, Sylwia Hauman

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