Business
Achieve Life Sciences Announces Changes in Executive Leadership and Board of Directors
Richard Stewart reassumes role of Chief Executive Officer Thomas King appointed Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors SEATTLE and VANCOUVER, British
About this update from Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Richard Stewart reassumes role of Chief Executive Officer Thomas King appointed Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors SEATTLE and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHV), a late-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence, today announced that Mr. Richard (Rick) Stewart, Achieve’s co-founder and current Executive Chairman, will reassume the role of Chief Executive Officer. John Bencich, who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer for the past four years, will serve as an advisor during the transition. Additionally, the Company announced that Mr. Thomas (Tom) King, currently the lead independent director of the Board of Directors, will assume the role of Executive Chairman. “The change in leadership is driven by the need to have a CEO with substantial M&A and commercial experience pushing the company forward to future critical milestones, whether that be a potential licensing transaction or strategic transaction for the commercialization of cytisinicline,” commented Tom King, Executive Chairman of Achieve’s Board of Directors. “On behalf of Achieve, we thank John for his tenure with the Company and appreciate his assistance during this transition.” “It’s been an incredible journey helping Achieve grow over the past seven years and I wish the new leadership team continued success as they drive the cytisinicline program forward to patients,” commented John Bencich. “I am thankful for the time I had at Achieve and all we accomplished, and am looking forward to pursuing my next opportunity.” Rick Stewart, Achieve Chief Executive Officer, added, “We remain on track to meet our objectives for this year, including the completion of enrollment of the ORCA-OL study, meeting with the FDA for our End-of-Phase 2 meeting for vaping cessation under Breakthrough Therapy designation, and furthering our progress on the NDA submission, that we expect to file in the first-half of 2025. I look forward to my new role and leading our excellent team to bring forward a potentially life-changing treatment for millions of people who battle nicotine dependence, while at the same time aiming to optimize shareholder value.” About Achieve and CytisiniclineAchieve’s focus is t...