AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. appointed Mr. Grant Begley as new CEO

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


As previously reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2023, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company appointed Mr. Grant Begley, current Chairman of the Board, to serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective January 1, 2024, and continuing until such time as a new Chief Executive Officer of the Company is appointed by the Board. Effective as of April 15, 2024, Mr. Grant Begley ceased to serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and the Company and William ("Bill") Irby entered into an Executive Employment Agreement (the "Employment Agreement") setting forth the terms of Bill Irby's appointment as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company effective as of April 15, 2024. As previously announced, Bill Irby had served as President of the Company, since February 12, 2024. Mr. Begley continues as Chairman of the Board of the Company. 


Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Bill Irby will receive an annual base salary of $375,000 per year, subject to annual performance reviews by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Compensation Committee"). In accordance with the 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and any related RSU award agreement, and as approved by the Compensation Committee, Mr. Irby will be eligible to receive a sign on bonus of restricted stock units ("RSUs") with a fair value of up to $60,000 and a sign on performance bonus of RSUs with a fair value of up to $300,000. In addition, Mr. Irby is entitled to receive an annual performance bonus, which will be determined each year by the Compensation Committee. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Irby is also provided with severance benefits in the event of termination without cause.


A copy of the Employment Agreement is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing summary of the terms of Bill Irby's employment is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by the Employment Agreement.


Bill Irby previously served as President of MTI Motion, a Steel Partners company specializing in motors and hardware for aircraft, weapons systems, and commercial equipment from November 2022 until February 2024. He has a long career spanning several executive roles in innovative defense organizations. Bill has served as the Chief Operating Officer at Martin UAV (assisting in its acquisition by Shield AI) from March 2021 to December 2021, President of the Reconnaissance Mission Systems sector of L3Harris Technologies from October 2018 through February 2021, SVP/GM of Textron Systems' Unmanned Systems business from November 2012 until October 2018, and as VP of two business units at Northrop Grumman in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Tactical Communications.


Before joining the defense industry, Bill served as a combat engineer in the United States Marine Corps. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the US Naval Academy, a Master of Science in Technical Management from Johns Hopkins University, and an Executive Certificate in the General Manager Program at Harvard Business School. As a longtime Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) board member, since April 2015, Bill continues serves as Chairman after previous roles as Executive Vice Chair, and Treasurer. He also brings his expertise to the advisory boards of Ghost Robotics, Secmation, and LaunchPoint EPS. The Company believes that Bill Irby's experience in engineering and aviation, in addition to holding executive roles in innovative defense organizations will make him a vital resource to the Company.


There is no family relationship between Bill Irby and any other executive officer or director of the Company. There have been no related transactions that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.