SharonAI Holdings Inc. filed a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2026, disclosing the appointment of David Burns, age 60, as Chief Operating Officer, effective September 7, 2026.

Key Highlights

  • New COO appointed: David Burns, age 60, will become Chief Operating Officer effective September 7, 2026.
  • Base salary: Burns will receive an annual base salary of AUD$550,000, stated as approximately US$395,000 at an AUD/USD exchange rate of $0.7185.
  • Short-term incentive: Burns is eligible for an annual short-term incentive award of up to 150% of his base salary, payable in cash and/or restricted stock units, at the Company's discretion.
  • Long-term incentive: Burns is eligible for an annual long-term incentive award of up to 150% of his base salary, issuable in restricted stock units, at the Company's discretion.
  • Predecessor's new role: Andrew Leece, the outgoing COO, is transitioning to Head of Strategic Partnerships.
  • Employment term: The agreement is for an indefinite term with an initial six-month probationary period and a three-month notice requirement for termination outside the probationary period.

SharonAI Holdings Names Veteran Technology Executive as Chief Operating Officer

According to the filing, SharonAI Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:SHAZ) announced on August 27, 2026, that its Board of Directors appointed David Burns as Chief Operating Officer, with the role commencing September 7, 2026. The employment agreement, dated August 26, 2026, was entered into between Burns and SharonAI Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Company, with SharonAI Holdings Inc. serving as guarantor. Burns will succeed Andrew Leece, who the filing states is transitioning to Head of Strategic Partnerships "in order to provide founder-level sponsorship across the Company's most important customer, data center and strategic relationships."

The filing describes Burns's compensation as including a base salary of AUD$550,000 (approximately US$395,000 at the stated exchange rate), plus eligibility for both short-term and long-term incentive awards of up to 150% of base salary each. The short-term incentive may be paid in cash and/or restricted stock units, while the long-term incentive is issuable in restricted stock units, both at the discretion of the Company. The agreement also includes provisions for accrued salary, superannuation contributions, and unused annual leave upon termination, as well as customary confidentiality, intellectual property assignment, post-termination restraints, and non-compete obligations.

According to the filing, Burns most recently served, since 2024, as Principal of David Burns Advisory and Thinkingcubed and as an active investor in Humanico, a workforce-intelligence software business. From 2020 to 2024, he served as Group Executive, Telstra Enterprise at Telstra Corporation Limited. Prior to that, from 1990 to 2012, he held senior leadership roles over more than 20 years with International Business Machines Corporation across Australia, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The filing states there are no family relationships between Burns and any directors or executive officers, and no related party transactions reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

What Was Disclosed

SharonAI Holdings disclosed the appointment of David Burns as COO effective September 7, 2026, the key terms of his employment agreement with subsidiary SharonAI Pty Ltd, and his professional background, including prior roles at Telstra and IBM.