---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001213900-23-069983"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ONCO"
cik: "0001782107"
company_name: "Onconetix, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-08-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-11T05:40:53.660991+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Blue Water Biotech CEO resigns; interim CEO appointed; Audit Committee reviews employee expenditures

## Summary
- Joseph Hernandez resigned as Chairman, CEO, and Board member, effective Aug 16, 2023.
- James Sapirstein appointed Interim Executive Chairman effective Sept 30; receives $25k/month.
- CFO Jon Garfield appointed interim principal executive officer until Sapirstein's appointment.
- Audit Committee commenced independent review of company employee expenditures and classification.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001213900-23-069983
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ONCO
- cik: 0001782107
- company_name: Onconetix, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-08-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1782107/000121390023069983/0001213900-23-069983-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1782107/000121390023069983/ea184059-8k_bluewater.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001213900-23-069983
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001213900-23-069983.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001213900-23-069983.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Joseph Hernandez resigned as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Member of the Board of Directors at Onconetix, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Member of the Board of Directors
  source text: Joseph Hernandez resigned as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Blue Water Biotech, Inc. (the “Company”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1782107/000121390023069983/0001213900-23-069983-index.htm
- Executive change
  James Sapirstein was appointed as Interim Executive Chairman at Onconetix, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim Executive Chairman
  source text: the Board appointed James Sapirstein to serve as Interim Executive Chairman, which appointment shall be effective September 30, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1782107/000121390023069983/0001213900-23-069983-index.htm
- Executive change
  Jon Garfield was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and interim principal executive officer at Onconetix, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer and interim principal executive officer
  source text: Effective August 16, 2023, Board has appointed Jon Garfield, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, to serve as the Company’s interim principal executive officer during the pendency of Mr. Sapirstein’s appointment.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1782107/000121390023069983/0001213900-23-069983-index.htm

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