Sezzle names Lee Brading as CFO, replacing retiring Karen Hartje

Sezzle Inc. (NASDAQ: SEZL) announced Lee Brading will become Chief Financial Officer effective February 1, 2026, replacing Karen Hartje, who is retiring after nearly eight years in the role.

Hartje served as CFO and principal financial officer under a consulting agreement since November 1, 2025, following her retirement announcement. She will remain as a consultant to facilitate the transition, according to the company statement.

Brading joined Sezzle in April 2020 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations. He previously served as an early investor and advisor to the company since its 2016 founding. In his current role, Brading helped lead the company's transition to profitability in 2021 and its move from the Australian Stock Exchange to NASDAQ in 2023.

"From our founding in 2016, Lee has been with us every step of the journey," said Charlie Youakim, Sezzle Executive Chairman and CEO. "He started as an early investor and advisor and eventually joined full-time to lead Corporate Development and Investor Relations."

Prior to Sezzle, Brading spent over 30 years in investment banking roles, most recently as Managing Director and Global Head of Credit Research at Wells Fargo Securities. He previously worked as an audit manager at BDO Seidman and holds an MBA from The University of North Carolina and a BS in Business Administration and Accounting from Washington & Lee University.

Sezzle operates a digital payment platform that provides point-of-sale financing options to consumers through a network of merchants.

You May Also Be Interested In

• McCormick board member to resign after CFO appointment at Best Buy
• Outlook Therapeutics names Kevin Lundquist as CFO ahead of U.S. launch
• Alto Neuroscience promotes Nick Smith to president and CFO