ESS Tech Appoints Drew Buckley CEO, Effective Jan. 1, Succeeding Interim CEO Kelly Goodman; Interim CFO Kate Suhadolnik Named Permanent CFO

Benzinga · 4d ago

ESS Tech, Inc. ("ESS," "ESS, Inc." or the "Company") (NYSE: GWH), a leading manufacturer of long-duration energy storage systems (LDES) for commercial and utility-scale applications, today announced the Board of Directors has appointed Drew Buckley as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026, succeeding Interim CEO Kelly Goodman. In addition, the Board appointed Kelly Goodman as Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel. The Board also appointed Kate Suhadolnik as Chief Financial Officer from her current role as Interim CFO.

Drew Buckley brings nearly two decades of experience focused exclusively on investing in publicly traded small- and mid-cap technology companies, where disciplined execution, capital efficiency, and credibility with investors determine long-term success. He joined ESS in August 2025 to lead the Company's investor relations and capital market strategy, shaping the Company's financial strategy while managing investor relations, financing activities, and market positioning to support long-term value creation for shareholders. Prior to ESS, he spent 17 years at William Blair as a Partner and sector leader focused on technology. Throughout his career, Drew has worked closely with management teams globally to navigate key inflection points: scaling operations, strengthening commercial execution, accessing capital responsibly, and building durable investor trust in public markets.