01—Abstract
Summary
Summary of the 8-K filed January 12, 2026. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.
NetApp, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP) filed a Current Report on Form 8-K on January 12, 2026 to disclose the appointment of Paul Fipps to its Board of Directors.
On January 8, 2026, the Board increased the number of authorized directors from nine to ten and appointed Mr. Fipps to fill the resulting vacancy. The filing states he is President of Global Customer Operations at ServiceNow and will participate as a non-employee director in the company's existing director compensation program, as described in its July 25, 2025 definitive proxy statement. The filing states there are no arrangements or understandings under which Mr. Fipps was selected as a director, and no related party transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
He is expected to enter into the company's standard director indemnification agreement. The accompanying press release, furnished as Exhibit 99.1 under Item 7.01, states the board now has ten directors, nine of whom are independent, and that 50%a of directors have been appointed within the last five years. The filing is primarily a governance update.
It contains no financial results, guidance, or financial figures. Its main relevance for investors is the board refresh and the stated focus on AI-ready data and customer-led execution, as described by CEO George Kurian and Board Chair Mike Nevens in the press release.
02—Key points
Key Highlights
- Board expanded from nine to ten authorized directors on January 8, 2026, with Paul Fipps appointed to fill the new seat.
- Mr. Fipps is President of Global Customer Operations at ServiceNow and previously served as EVP of Worldwide Sales at ServiceNow.
- Prior roles include President of Under Armour Connected Fitness and Chief Experience Officer at Under Armour.
- The press release states nine of the ten directors are independent and 50% of directors were appointed within the last five years.
- Mr. Fipps will receive compensation under the non-employee director program described in the July 25, 2025 proxy statement.
- The filing states there are no related party transactions or family relationships requiring disclosure in connection with the appointment.
- The filing contains no financial results or guidance; it is a governance disclosure.
03—Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was appointed to NetApp's Board of Directors?
Paul Fipps, President of Global Customer Operations at ServiceNow, was appointed by the Board on January 8, 2026 to fill a newly created seat, bringing the total to ten authorized directors.
Is Mr. Fipps considered independent?
The filing does not state Mr. Fipps's independence status specifically. The press release says nine of the ten directors on the board are independent.
How will Mr. Fipps be compensated?
As a non-employee director, he will participate in the non-employee director compensation program described in NetApp's definitive proxy statement filed July 25, 2025. He is also expected to sign the company's standard director indemnification agreement.
Were there any related party transactions or special arrangements tied to the appointment?
The filing states there are no arrangements or understandings under which Mr. Fipps was selected, and no related party transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Does this filing include financial results or guidance?
No. The filing covers only the board appointment and the related press release. It contains no financial results, guidance, or financial figures.
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