---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-22-121225"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACRS"
cik: "0001557746"
company_name: "Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-11-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-21T14:07:50.706297+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Aclaris Therapeutics CEO Neal Walker to step down, becomes Chair; CFO Ruffo retires; Manion named CEO, Balthaser CFO

## Summary
- Neal Walker resigns as CEO effective Dec 31, 2022; appointed Chair of the Board effective Jan 1, 2023.
- CFO Frank Ruffo retires effective Dec 31, 2022; will serve as consultant through March 2, 2023.
- Douglas Manion, currently President, appointed CEO and Class I Director effective Jan 1, 2023.
- Kevin Balthaser, VP Finance since 2022, appointed CFO effective Jan 1, 2023.
- Christopher Molineaux becomes Lead Independent Director effective Jan 1, 2023.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-22-121225
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACRS
- cik: 0001557746
- company_name: Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-11-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/0001104659-22-121225-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/tm2231125d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-121225
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-121225.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-22-121225.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Neal Walker was appointed as Chair of the Board at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chair of the Board
  source text: the Board appointed Dr. Walker as the Chair of the Board, effective January 1, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/0001104659-22-121225-index.htm
- Executive change
  Frank Ruffo retired as Chief Financial Officer at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Mr. Ruffo notified the Company that he will retire from his positions as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company, effective December 31, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/0001104659-22-121225-index.htm
- Executive change
  Douglas Manion was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board appointed Douglas Manion, age 62, M.D., FRCP (C), as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2023, in addition to his role as President which he has held since August 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/0001104659-22-121225-index.htm
- Executive change
  Neal Walker resigned as Chief Executive Officer at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Dr. Walker notified Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”) that he will resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective December 31, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/0001104659-22-121225-index.htm
- Executive change
  Kevin Balthaser was appointed as Chief Financial Officer at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: the Board appointed Kevin Balthaser as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective as of January 1, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/0001104659-22-121225-index.htm
- Executive change
  Douglas Manion was appointed as Class I Director at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Class I Director
  source text: The Board also appointed Dr. Manion to the Board to serve as a Class I director to hold office until the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/0001104659-22-121225-index.htm
- Executive change
  Christopher Molineaux changed role as Lead Independent Director at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: assumed
  - Role: Lead Independent Director
  source text: Christopher Molineaux will assume the role of Lead Independent Director on January 1, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000110465922121225/0001104659-22-121225-index.htm

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