---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-22-098241"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "XXII"
cik: "0001347858"
company_name: "22nd Century Group, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-09-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-23T13:56:22.631717+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# 22nd Century Group eliminates President/COO role; Michael Zercher departs Sept 30, 2022

## Summary
- Michael Zercher, President and COO, will depart on September 30, 2022; position eliminated.
- CEO James Mish assumes title of Corporate President; John Miller takes over tobacco COO duties.
- Company cites accelerating growth in reduced nicotine tobacco business and successful VLN pilot.
- VLN received first and only FDA MRTP authorization for combustible cigarette in Dec 2021.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-22-098241
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: XXII
- cik: 0001347858
- company_name: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-09-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1347858/000110465922098241/0001104659-22-098241-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1347858/000110465922098241/tm2225320d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-098241
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-098241.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-098241.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Michael Zercher was terminated as President and Chief Operating Officer at 22nd Century Group, Inc..
  - Action: terminated
  - Role: President and Chief Operating Officer
  source text: Michael Zercher, who was previously serving in the role of President and COO, received notice that the position was eliminated and his contract with the Company will terminate on September 30, 2022 as a result.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1347858/000110465922098241/0001104659-22-098241-index.htm

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