8-KCurrent report
Officer or director change
✓ VerifiedEchoStar CEO of EchoStar Capital and Hughes President and CEO Hamid Akhavan resigned effective immediately on July 6, 2026, with Charles W. Ergen taking over as Principal Executive Officer of Hughes.
8.01 Other events
Filed Jul 7, 2026 · 09:01 ET
Summary
- On July 6, 2026, Hamid Akhavan notified EchoStar and Hughes that he will resign effective immediately from all positions after discussions with the Board regarding a change of strategic direction.
- Akhavan held the roles of Chief Executive Officer of EchoStar Capital, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes, and a member of the boards of both EchoStar Corporation and Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation.
- Akhavan will be available to consult with the Company and Hughes through December 31, 2026.
- Charles W. Ergen will take over Akhavan's responsibilities as Principal Executive Officer of Hughes.
- Akhavan's Letter Agreement will be modified to accelerate the July 6, 2026 vesting of his outstanding options previously scheduled to vest on December 31, 2026.
- EchoStar Capital will fold into Corporate Development, run by Thomas A. Cullen, who has almost 20 years with the company as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development.
Key facts
- Departing executive
- Hamid Akhavan
From the filing for Departing executive
“Mr. Hamid Akhavan, Chief Executive Officer, EchoStar Capital, President and Chief Executive Officer Hughes”
- Resignation date
- July 6, 2026
From the filing for Resignation date
“On July 6, 2026, after discussions with the Board of Directors regarding a change of strategic direction”
- Effective timing
- effective immediately
From the filing for Effective timing
“he will resign effective immediately from all positions with the Company and Hughes”
- Consulting period
- through December 31, 2026
From the filing for Consulting period
“Mr. Akhavan will be available to consult with the Company and Hughes through December 31, 2026”
- Successor at Hughes
- Charles W. Ergen
From the filing for Successor at Hughes
“Mr. Charles W. Ergen will take over Mr. Akhavan's responsibilities as Principal Executive Officer of Hughes”
- Option vesting acceleration
- July 6, 2026 vesting
From the filing for Option vesting acceleration
“modified to accelerate the July 6, 2026 vesting of Mr. Akhavan's outstanding options previously scheduled to vest on December 31, 2026”
- Corporate Development leader
- Thomas A. Cullen
From the filing for Corporate Development leader
“EchoStar Capital will fold into Corporate Development run by Mr. Thomas A. Cullen, who has almost 20 years with the company as the Executive Vice President, Corporate Development”
Why it mattersAkhavan's immediate departure hands Hughes leadership to Chairman Charles W. Ergen and folds EchoStar Capital into Corporate Development. The filing cites a change of strategic direction at the satellite and broadband operator.
- Filed
- Jul 7, 2026
- Accepted
- 2026-07-07 13:01Z
- Period
- Jul 6, 2026
- Accession no.
- 0001104659-26-080994
- Size
- 247 KB
- Index
- Filing index