---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001140361-25-025673"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "RCKT"
cik: "0001281895"
company_name: "ROCKET PHARMACEUTICALS, INC."
filed_at: "2025-07-11T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-18T06:53:12.803149+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Rocket Pharmaceuticals appoints Christopher Stevens as COO; Patel shifts to President, Head of R&D

## Summary
- Christopher Stevens, age 45, appointed COO effective July 7, 2025; previously EVP at Spark Therapeutics.
- Kinnari Patel transitions from COO, President, Head of R&D to President, Head of R&D.
- Stevens receives $525,000 base salary, 45% target bonus, $250,000 sign-on, and ~$2.5M equity grant.
- Equity vests over 3 years; additional $500K equity grant after one year.
- Severance provisions: 9 months base plus COBRA; 12 months on change-in-control termination.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001140361-25-025673
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: RCKT
- cik: 0001281895
- company_name: ROCKET PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
- filed_at: 2025-07-11T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1281895/000114036125025673/0001140361-25-025673-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1281895/000114036125025673/ef20051920_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001140361-25-025673
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001140361-25-025673.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001140361-25-025673.txt

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