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# Expand Energy Picks Chord's Danny Brown As CEO, With $8.75 Million Target Pay Plus Make-Whole Awards
- URL: https://www.bullished.co/expand-energy-picks-chords-danny-brown-as-ceo-with-8-75-million-target-pay-plus-make-whole-5f304a7a/
- Published: 2026-10-19T12:21:32.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T12:40:30.000Z
- Description: Brown's pay package includes a $1,000,000 salary, and interim chief Michael Wichterich returns to non-executive chairman.
- Author: Matteo Parrino
- Tags: SEC Filings, EXE, Industry: Energy

[Expand Energy](https://www.bullished.co/tag/exe/) appointed Daniel E. Brown, 51, as president and CEO, effective [October 26, 2026](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000895126/000110465926116739/tm2627775d1%5F8k.htm?ref=bullished.co), according to an 8-K filed Monday. He most recently ran Chord Energy, and he will also join Expand's board.

## What the 8-K says

The filing says Brown's employment is anticipated to begin October 26\. He served as Chord Energy's president and CEO from July 2024 until October 2026, and before that as CEO of Oasis Petroleum, Chord's predecessor, from April 2021.

Earlier, he held roles at Anadarko Petroleum and its predecessor, Kerr-McGee, from 1998 until Occidental Petroleum bought Anadarko. Expand's [press release](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000895126/000110465926116739/tm2627775d1%5Fex99-1.htm?ref=bullished.co) says the board's search used a search firm and weighed internal and external candidates.

Michael Wichterich, interim president and CEO since February 2026, returns to non-executive chairman. The filing says his transition was planned and not the result of any disagreement with the company. He gets no severance or transition payments. He keeps a pro-rata share of his 2026 long-term award, subject to holding at least $1,000,000 of grant-date value in stock units.

## Brown's pay

Brown's base salary is $1,000,000, with a target annual bonus of 125% of salary, paid at target for 2026\. His annual long-term award has an aggregate target value of $8,750,000, split 30% restricted stock units and 70% performance share units, and is prorated for 2026.

He also gets a make-whole award meant to replace pay forfeited at his prior employer. It has restricted stock units targeted at $4,726,662 and performance share units targeted at $10,925,584.

The restricted units vest in equal thirds on December 31 of 2027, 2028 and 2029\. The performance units vest on total shareholder return over three overlapping periods that start in the third quarter of 2026 and end December 31 of 2028, 2029 and 2030\. Both can vest faster if he is fired without cause or resigns for good reason.

Brown joins the executive severance plan at its top tier, and his incentive pay is subject to the company's clawback policies. As an employee director, he gets no separate board pay.

## What to watch

Brown has not been placed on any board committees. He will serve on the board until the next annual meeting of stockholders.

Wichterich's interim term ends when Brown's employment begins, anticipated for October 26.

### Sources

- [8-K Filing — EXPAND ENERGY Corp (EXE)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000895126/000110465926116739/tm2627775d1%5F8k.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR
- [Exhibit tm2627775d1\_ex99-1.htm — EXPAND ENERGY Corp 8-K exhibit](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000895126/000110465926116739/tm2627775d1%5Fex99-1.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR

### More on Expand Energy

- [Expand Energy Hires Sarah Grose As Chief Accounting Officer, Ending CFO's Interim Stint](https://www.bullished.co/expand-energy-hires-sarah-grose-as-chief-accounting-officer-ending-cfos-interim-stint-8bf4660d/)
- [Expand Energy Extends Its Credit Facility To September 2031, An 8-K Shows](https://www.bullished.co/expand-energy-extends-its-credit-facility-to-september-2031-an-8-k-shows-6eb82a5b/)

[All Expand Energy (EXE) coverage →](https://www.bullished.co/tag/exe/)