USA Rare Earth (USAR) announced a significant leadership transition, with CEO Barbara Humpton set to retire on October 1, 2026. She will be succeeded by Thrasyvoulos Moraitis, the current CEO of Serra Verde Group, which USAR is in the process of acquiring. Concurrently, the Board has appointed its current Chairman, Michael Blitzer, to the role of Executive Chair, effective immediately, to oversee strategy during this pivotal period.
Key Details
- Outgoing CEO: Barbara Humpton will retire as CEO and a director effective October 1, 2026. Her retirement agreement includes a $500,000 pro-rated 2026 bonus and the vesting of 219,329 restricted stock units (RSUs).
- Incoming CEO: Thrasyvoulos Moraitis will assume the CEO role on October 1, 2026, following the anticipated closing of the USAR-Serra Verde business combination. His compensation package includes a base salary of CHF 822,000, a target bonus of 100% of base salary, and inducement equity awards valued at over $12 million.
- Executive Chair: Michael Blitzer was appointed Executive Chair on July 19, 2026. For this role, he will receive an annual cash retainer of $170,000 and annual RSU grants valued at $2.53 million.