---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-24-041846"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ORKA"
cik: "0000907654"
company_name: "Oruka Therapeutics, Inc."
filed_at: "2024-04-04T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-04T02:39:51.439538+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# CEO Michael Bristow departs ARCA biopharma; COO Thomas Keuer named President

## Summary
- Dr. Bristow's employment and board membership ended April 3, 2024 by mutual agreement, not due to any disagreement.
- Bristow receives lump sum of $370,000 (12 months salary plus $25K) and equity continues vesting under consulting agreement.
- Thomas Keuer, COO since 2015, appointed President and principal executive officer effective April 3, 2024.
- Keuer's appointment will end upon closing of the previously announced merger with Oruka Therapeutics.
- Separation agreement includes standard release, confidentiality, non-disparagement, and arbitration clauses.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-24-041846
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ORKA
- cik: 0000907654
- company_name: Oruka Therapeutics, Inc.
- filed_at: 2024-04-04T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/907654/000095017024041846/0000950170-24-041846-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/907654/000095017024041846/abio-20240402.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-041846
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-041846.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-041846.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Thomas A. Keuer was appointed as President and principal executive officer at Oruka Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and principal executive officer
  source text: the Board appointed Thomas A. Keuer, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, to serve as ARCA’s President and principal executive officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/907654/000095017024041846/0000950170-24-041846-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael Bristow departed as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director at Oruka Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: concluded employment and service as director
  - Role: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
  source text: Dr. Michael Bristow, President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors (the “Board”) of ARCA have mutually agreed to conclude Dr. Bristow’s employment and service as a director, effective April 3, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/907654/000095017024041846/0000950170-24-041846-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.