---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-315574"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AKBA"
cik: "0001517022"
company_name: "Akebia Therapeutics, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-11-01T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T15:42:20.641849+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.25
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.25
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Akebia Therapeutics elects Ron Frieson as independent Class I director, effective Nov 1, 2021

## Summary
- Board expanded from 8 to 9 directors; Frieson's term expires at 2024 annual meeting.
- Frieson determined independent per Nasdaq rules; no related-party transactions.
- Entitled to annual cash retainer of $45,000, equity grants of 20,100 options and 13,700 RSUs.
- Received initial director grant: option for 80,200 shares at $3.13 (Nov 1 closing price).
- Standard indemnification agreement as per Company's non-employee director program.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-315574
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AKBA
- cik: 0001517022
- company_name: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-11-01T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.25
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.25
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517022/000119312521315574/0001193125-21-315574-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517022/000119312521315574/d247159d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-315574
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-315574.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-315574.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Ron Frieson was elected as Class I director at Akebia Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Class I director
  source text: the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), upon recommendation from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, increased the Board’s size from eight to nine directors and elected Ron Frieson as a Class I director.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517022/000119312521315574/0001193125-21-315574-index.htm

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