Brand Engagement Network Inc. 8-K

What Happened
Brand Engagement Network Inc. filed an 8-K reporting that Bernard Puckett notified the Board on March 20, 2026 that he will step down as Chairman and resign from the Board, effective March 31, 2026, at the end of his two-year term. Mr. Puckett had been Interim Chairman since August 2025 and a director since April 2023, and he served as Chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees. The Board appointed independent director Jon Leibowitz as Chairman effective April 1, 2026. Mr. Leibowitz currently chairs the company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and serves on the Audit Committee; his background includes serving as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission and as a senior partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell.

Key Details

• Bernard Puckett’s resignation notice dated March 20, 2026; resignation effective March 31, 2026.
• Jon Leibowitz appointed Chairman of the Board, effective April 1, 2026.
• Mr. Puckett served as Interim Chairman since Aug 2025 and was a director since Apr 2023; he chaired the Audit Committee and served on Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees.
• Company states the departure was not due to any disagreement with the Company on operations, policies or practices; no related-party arrangements disclosed for Mr. Leibowitz.

Why It Matters
A change in board leadership can affect corporate governance and oversight. The appointment of Jon Leibowitz — a director with regulatory and consumer-protection experience, including prior service as FTC Chairman — signals continuity in independent oversight and may influence how the Board handles regulatory, compliance and consumer-related matters. The filing confirms the transition is orderly and not the result of dispute, which is relevant for investors assessing board stability.