908 Devices Inc 8-K, filed Aug 4, 2025
908 Devices Inc. (MASS)
About this 8-K
908 Devices Inc filed this 8-K on August 4, 2025, reporting on events of July 31, 2025.
Items reported
- Item 5.02: Director or officer change, or executive pay
- Item 7.01: Regulation FD disclosure
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
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| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers. |
On July 31, 2025, Jeff George resigned from the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of 908 Devices Inc. (the “Company”) and the Compensation Committee of the Board. His resignation was effective on July 31, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. His decision to resign from the Board was not related to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to its operations, policies or practices and follows the Company’s recent sale of its bioprocessing product portfolio.
On August 1, 2025, Brandi C. Vann, Ph.D. was appointed to the Board to fill the vacancy created following Mr. George’s resignation. Dr. Vann will serve as a Class I director, with a term expiring at the Company’s 2027 annual meeting of stockholders.
Dr. Vann is Director of Strategic Implementation at Draper, a nonprofit engineering innovation company, which she joined in July 2025. Prior to Draper, she had a long and distinguished government career, with responsibility for the strategy and implementation of nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs at the United States Department of Defense (DoD).
Dr. Vann was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense from January 2022 until July 2025, and in April 2024 added, Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs. In this capacity she was the principal advisor on nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, chemical and biological defense programs, chemical demilitarization, and treaty management. From September 2019 through January 2022, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense.
Dr. Vann also held positions at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), part of the DoD, including Chief of the Advanced and Emerging Threats Division from 2017 to 2019, where she led efforts for the characterization of advanced and emerging chemical and biological threats. She also served in other capacities at DTRA including Chief of the Detection and Diagnostics Systems Development Branch from 2014 to 2017 and Chief of the Assays and Biomarkers Branch from 2008 to 2012. She also served as Director of Laboratories at Nephron Pharmaceuticals from 2013-2014.
As a career member of the senior executive service in the DoD, Dr. Vann was awarded the 2023 Meritorious Presidential Rank Award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and received her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of South Carolina.
In accordance with the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (the “Policy”), Dr. Vann will receive annual cash compensation of $40,000 for general availability and participation in meetings and conference calls of the Board, to be paid quarterly in arrears, pro-rated based on the number of actual days served by the director during such calendar quarter. No additional compensation will be paid for attending individual meetings of the Board. In addition, Dr. Vann shall be granted an initial, one-time equity award (the “Initial Award”), representing $200,000 of value on the grant date, with 50% of the value allocated to Restricted Stock Unit awards (“RSUs”), and 50% of the value allocated to Non-Qualified Stock Option awards (“NQSOs”). The RSUs shall vest annually over three (3) years from the director commencement date, with pro rata vesting upon termination of service for any reason, and the NQSOs shall vest monthly over three (3) years from the director commencement date, provided that such director remains a service provider through the applicable vesting dates. The Initial Awards shall be granted under and subject to terms of the Company’s 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
Dr. Vann will also be eligible for equity awards on the same terms as other continuing non-employee members of the Board. Currently, the Policy provides that, on or about the date of each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”), each continuing non-employee director, other than a director who joined the Board and received an Initial Award within 90 days of such Annual Meeting, will receive an annual equity award (the “Annual Award”), representing $135,000 of value on the grant date, with 50% of the value allocated to RSUs, and 50% of the value allocated to NQSOs. The RSUs shall vest in full at the one year anniversary of the Annual Meeting, or the day prior to the next Annual Meeting, whichever is first to occur, with pro rata vesting upon termination of service for any reason, and the NQSOs shall vest monthly over one (1) year from the date of the Annual Meeting, provided that such director remains a service provider through the applicable vesting dates. The Annual Awards shall be granted under and subject to terms of the Company’s 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
All outstanding Initial Awards and Annual Awards held by a non-employee director shall become fully vested and exercisable upon a Sale Event (as defined in the Company’s 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan).
Dr. Vann also executed the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-250954) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2020.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Dr. Vann and any other persons pursuant to which Dr. Vann was elected as a director. In addition, there are no family relationships between Dr. Vann and any other director or executive officer of the Company and Dr. Vann has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction, or series of transactions, required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
On August 4, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Dr. Vann as a director. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
On August 1, 2025, the Board appointed Tony J. Hunt to be a member of and the Chair of the Compensation Committee of the Board, to fill the vacancy created upon Mr. George’s resignation. The Board determined that Mr. Hunt is “independent” as that term is defined in the applicable Nasdaq rules, and that he meets the requirements of a “non-employee director” pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On August 4, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Dr. Vann as a director. The press release is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release dated August 4, 2025 | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| 908 DEVICES INC. | ||
| August 4, 2025 | By: | /s/ Michael S. Turner |
| Michael S. Turner | ||
| Chief Legal and Administrative Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
908 Devices Appoints Dr. Brandi Vann, former U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense, to its Board of Directors
BOSTON, August 4, 2025 – 908 Devices Inc. (Nasdaq: MASS), a pioneer of purpose-built handheld devices for chemical analysis, announces that it has appointed Dr. Brandi Vann to serve on its Board of Directors. During more than 15 years at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Dr. Vann held several leadership positions overseeing nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs. The company also announces that Jeff George, a veteran biopharma leader, has stepped down from its Board of Directors due to the company’s strategic refocus on public health, safety and defense tech. These changes are effective immediately.
Previously, Dr. Vann was Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs and was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense at the DoD. In this capacity she was the principal advisor on nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, chemical and biological defense programs, chemical demilitarization, and treaty management. From September 2019 through January 2022, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense.
Dr. Vann also held positions at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), part of the DoD, including Chief of the Advanced and Emerging Threats Division from 2017 to 2019, where she led efforts for the characterization of advanced and emerging chemical and biological threats. She also served in other capacities at DTRA including Chief of the Detection and Diagnostics Systems Development Branch and Chief of the Assays and Biomarkers Branch.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Brandi to our Board of Directors. I’ve had the privilege of knowing her for many years, dating back to the founding of 908 Devices, and have always valued her insight,” said Kevin J. Knopp, CEO and Co-founder, 908 Devices. “Her many years of leadership in CBRN detection enhances the strategic counsel of our board as we navigate opportunities in national security and global preparedness.”
“I’m honored to join the 908 Devices Board of Directors and to support its leadership team as they continue their mission to equip military personnel and first responders with field-ready devices that rapidly identify chemical threats,” said Dr. Vann. “I’ve admired the company’s innovation and impact, and I’m excited to contribute to its important work in defense tech.”
“Brandi’s government experience and expertise in nuclear, chemical, and biological defense should be helpful as we shape and execute our strategy for commercializing advanced chemical detection devices,” said Kevin Hrusovsky, chairman of 908 Devices. “We also thank Jeff for his many contributions on our Board, including as chair of our compensation committee. He played an important role in helping shape our bioprocessing strategy and divestiture. We are grateful for his thoughtful, strategic perspective and leadership.”
About 908 Devices
908 Devices is revolutionizing chemical analysis with its simple handheld devices, addressing life-altering applications. The Company’s devices are used at the point-of-need to interrogate unknown and invisible materials and provide quick, actionable answers in vital health, safety and defense tech applications, addressing the fentanyl and illicit drug crisis, toxic carcinogen exposure, and global security threats. The Company designs and manufactures innovative products that bring together the power of complementary analytical technologies, software automation, and machine learning. For more information, visit www.908devices.com.
Forward Looking Statements for 908 Devices
This press release includes "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the expected uses and capabilities of the Company’s products. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement, including the risks outlined under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will be made available in the Company’s annual and quarterly reports and other filings that it makes from time to time with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results. The Company has no obligation, and does not undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statement made in this press release to reflect changes since the date of this press release, except as may be required by law.
Media Contact
Barbara Russo
brusso@908devices.com
Investor Contact
Carrie Mendivil
IR@908devices.com