8-K: Amaze Holdings Appoints Joel Krutz as New CFO

Amaze Holdings, Inc. announced the appointment of Joel Krutz, a seasoned finance executive, as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective January 5, 2026.

Summary

• Amaze Holdings, Inc. (AMZE) appointed Joel Krutz, age 52, as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective January 5, 2026.
• Mr. Krutz brings over 20 years of senior financial and operational leadership experience from public companies in media, technology, and digital infrastructure.
• His previous roles include CFO and COO of Crown Electrokinetics Corp. and CFO for ViacomCBS Networks International.
• Mr. Krutz's compensation package includes an initial base salary of $400,000 annually.
• He will receive 586,085 restricted stock units (RSUs) vesting over three years.
• Performance bonuses for 2026 include $150,000 for a $5,000,000 net liquidity increase by June 30, 2026, and an additional $150,000 for exceeding $10,000,000 net liquidity by December 31, 2026, with a potential 3% bonus on liquidity above $10,000,000, capped at an additional $300,000.
• Keith Johnson will transition out of his role as interim Chief Financial Officer, effective December 31, 2025.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The appointment of a highly experienced CFO with a strong background in global media and technology, coupled with performance-based incentives tied to liquidity targets, is a positive development for the company's financial strategy and governance. This signals a focus on strengthening the financial foundation and scaling efficiently.

Positives

• Appointment of Joel Krutz, an executive with over 20 years of senior financial and operational leadership experience across public companies in media, technology, and digital infrastructure.
• Mr. Krutz's background includes guiding complex global organizations, executing capital strategy, and supporting profitable growth at scale, which aligns with Amaze's development phase.
• His prior experience as CFO of ViacomCBS Networks International involved managing a multi-billion-dollar global business and leading financial strategy for sustained, double-digit profitability growth.
• The company is focused on enhancing financial discipline and supporting growth towards becoming a profitable, scalable platform.
• Performance bonuses are tied to specific net liquidity increase targets ($5M and $10M in 2026), incentivizing strong financial management.

Future Outlook

The company anticipates continued scaling of its platform and execution of its strategic roadmap, with the new CFO expected to reinforce the financial foundation and position the company for long-term success. Forward-looking statements include expectations for financial outlook, strategies, initiatives, growth for 2026, anticipated revenues, and 2026 full-year financial guidance, with a focus on becoming a profitable, scalable platform serving creators worldwide.

Management Comments

• Aaron Day, CEO: "Joel's experience navigating public markets and building financial infrastructure for global businesses makes him a strong addition to our leadership team. As we continue to scale the platform and execute on our strategic roadmap, his leadership will be critical in reinforcing our financial foundation and positioning the Company for long-term success."
• Joel Krutz, CFO: "Amaze is building a differentiated platform at the intersection of creators, commerce, and technology, and I'm excited to be joining the team at this important stage. I look forward to working closely with Aaron and the rest of leadership team to strengthen the Company's financial foundation, enhance capital flexibility, and support Amaze's efforts to scale efficiently while creating long-term value for creators, partners, and shareholders."

Industry Context

Amaze Holdings operates in the rapidly evolving 'creator-powered commerce' sector, a growing intersection of media, technology, and e-commerce. The appointment of a CFO with extensive experience in global media and technology companies, particularly in managing multi-billion-dollar businesses and driving profitability, suggests Amaze is positioning itself for significant scaling and financial maturation within this competitive and dynamic industry. This move aligns with a broader trend of creator platforms seeking seasoned financial leadership to navigate public markets and optimize growth strategies.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Not explicitly detailed in the filing. The filing focuses on the qualifications and compensation of the newly appointed CFO rather than providing a direct comparison of financial results or operational metrics against industry benchmarks or specific competitors.

Management Changes

Corporate Governance

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Benefit from enhanced financial leadership and strategic direction, potentially leading to improved financial performance and long-term value creation.
• Employees: The new CFO's focus on financial discipline and scalable growth could lead to a more stable and strategically aligned organization.
• Management Team: The addition of a seasoned CFO strengthens the executive team, bringing expertise in public markets and global financial operations.

Next Steps

• Joel Krutz's employment as Chief Financial Officer will commence on January 5, 2026.
• Mr. Krutz will enter into an indemnification agreement in the form previously approved by the Board.
• The company will continue to execute on its strategic roadmap, focusing on scaling the platform and enhancing financial discipline.
• Future performance bonuses for Mr. Krutz will be based on revenue targets and profit goals mutually set by the C-level team after 2026.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The appointment of a highly experienced Chief Financial Officer like Joel Krutz is a positive step for Amaze Holdings, signaling a commitment to strengthening financial operations and strategic growth. His background in global media and technology, coupled with performance incentives tied to liquidity, suggests a robust approach to financial management. However, without immediate financial results or specific forward-looking guidance on revenue and profit beyond general statements, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate. Investors should monitor the company's execution on its strategic roadmap and the impact of Mr. Krutz's leadership on financial performance and liquidity targets in the coming quarters.

Keywords

CFO appointment, executive change, financial leadership, corporate governance, creator economy, e-commerce, technology, media, restricted stock units, performance bonus, NYSE American