---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-21-141633"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "XXII"
cik: "0001347858"
company_name: "22nd Century Group, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-11-19T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T06:28:00.235017+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# 22nd Century Group appoints Richard Fitzgerald as CFO; Franzino becomes CAO

## Summary
- Richard Fitzgerald appointed CFO effective Nov 15, 2021, succeeding John Franzino who becomes Chief Administrative Officer.
- Fitzgerald's base salary set at $325,000 with a one-time inducement award of $75,000.
- Employment agreement has a three-year term; severance of 12 months' base salary upon termination without cause or for good reason.
- Fitzgerald previously served as CFO of CleanTech Acquisition Corp, Immunome, Sesen Bio, and PAVmed.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-21-141633
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: XXII
- cik: 0001347858
- company_name: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-11-19T23:59:59+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/1347858/000110465921141633/0001104659-21-141633-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1347858/000110465921141633/tm2133415-1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-21-141633
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-21-141633.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-21-141633.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John Franzino changed role as Chief Administrative Officer at 22nd Century Group, Inc..
  - Action: transitioned to
  - Role: Chief Administrative Officer
  source text: Mr. Fitzgerald succeeds John Franzino, the Company’s previous Chief Financial Officer, who has transitioned to Chief Administrative Officer
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1347858/000110465921141633/0001104659-21-141633-index.htm
- Executive change
  Richard Fitzgerald was appointed as Chief Financial Officer at 22nd Century Group, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On November 15, 2021, 22nd Century Group, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Richard Fitzgerald as its Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1347858/000110465921141633/0001104659-21-141633-index.htm

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