Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. appointed John Turner as new CEO

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

On February 29, 2024, Ben M. "Bud" Brigham informed the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Atlas Energy Solutions Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "Atlas") of his plans to step down as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective as of March 6, 2024. Mr. Brigham will remain on the Company's Board as Executive Chairman.


As Executive Chairman, Mr. Brigham will receive annual cash compensation of $450,000 and a target long-term incentive plan award in the form of performance stock units with a grant date value equal to $4,500,000 granted pursuant to the Company's form award agreement previously approved by the Board.


On February 29, 2024, the Board promoted John Turner, the Company's President and Chief Financial Officer, to become the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, effective as of March 6, 2024. Mr. Turner will continue to serve in the role of Chief Financial Officer until a new Chief Financial Officer is appointed by the Board.


Mr. Turner, age 52, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2017 and as our President and Chief Financial Officer since November 2022. Mr. Turner has over 20 years of oil and natural gas industry experience. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Turner worked in various capacities for both public and private entities, with a focus on corporate finance, business development and strategic planning, including as Chief Financial Officer of Brigham Exploration LLC, Chief Financial Officer of Mediterranean Resources, LLC and Vice President of Brigham Exploration. Mr. Turner received a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.


In connection with Mr. Turner's appointment, his annual base salary will increase to $800,000 per year, paid in accordance with the Company's payroll practices. Mr. Turner is also eligible to receive an annual cash bonus, depending upon his and the Company's performance. Mr. Turner's target cash bonus is 110% of his annual base salary, or $880,000, and his target long-term incentive plan award is equal to a grant date value of $3,320,000, to be split equally between restricted stock units and performance stock units granted pursuant to the Company's form award agreements previously approved by the Board.


Mr. Turner is also eligible to participate in any benefit plans that may be offered from time to time by the Company to its employees generally and in the Company's 401(k) plan, in each case subject to his satisfaction of the applicable eligibility provisions.


There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Turner and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Turner was selected to serve as an officer of the Company. There are no family relationships between Mr. Turner and any of our directors or executive officers. Mr. Turner has not had an interest in any transaction since the beginning of the Company's last fiscal year, or any currently proposed transaction, that requires disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.