---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001013762-23-001586"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "EMMA"
cik: "0000822370"
company_name: "Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-10-04T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-10T05:06:07.690692+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Emmaus appoints George Sekulich to board and Willis Lee as Chairman

## Summary
- George Sekulich appointed to fill board vacancy created by Yutaka Niihara's resignation on Sept 25, 2023.
- Sekulich also serves as Co-President and Chief Commercial Officer; previously SVP and CIO since July 2019.
- Willis Lee, Co-President and COO, appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors on October 2, 2023.
- No family relationships or related-party transactions with Sekulich were disclosed.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001013762-23-001586
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: EMMA
- cik: 0000822370
- company_name: Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-10-04T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822370/000101376223001586/0001013762-23-001586-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822370/000101376223001586/ea186291-8k_emmaus.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001013762-23-001586
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001013762-23-001586.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001013762-23-001586.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Willis Lee was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chairman of the Board of Directors
  source text: Also on October 2, 2023, the Board of Directors appointed Willis Lee, the Co-President and Chief Operating Officer, to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822370/000101376223001586/0001013762-23-001586-index.htm
- Executive change
  Yutaka Niihara resigned as Director at Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: Yutaka Niihara, M.D., M.P.H., the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, resigned as a director effective September 25, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822370/000101376223001586/0001013762-23-001586-index.htm

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