---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001558370-24-000373"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACRS"
cik: "0001557746"
company_name: "Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc."
filed_at: "2024-01-19T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-06T21:17:24.107297+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Aclaris Therapeutics CEO Douglas Manion steps down; Neal Walker named interim CEO; strategic review launched

## Summary
- Douglas Manion stepped down as CEO/President and Board member effective Jan 16, 2024; mutual decision with no disagreement.
- Chairman and co-founder Neal Walker appointed interim CEO effective Jan 17, 2024; previously served as CEO until 2022.
- Company initiates strategic review to maximize shareholder return; no timeline or definitive course set.
- Preliminary unaudited cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities ~$182M as of Dec 31, 2023.
- Seeking partner for ATI-1777; assessing pathway for ATI-2138; discovery programs continue via KINect platform.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001558370-24-000373
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACRS
- cik: 0001557746
- company_name: Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
- filed_at: 2024-01-19T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000155837024000373/0001558370-24-000373-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000155837024000373/acrs-20240115x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-24-000373
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-24-000373.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-24-000373.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Neal Walker was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim Chief Executive Officer and President
  source text: the Board appointed Neal Walker as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, effective January 17, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000155837024000373/0001558370-24-000373-index.htm
- Executive change
  Douglas Manion resigned as Chief Executive Officer and President at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer and President
  source text: On January 15, 2024, the Company and Douglas Manion mutually agreed that Dr. Manion will step down as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President and resign from the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”), effective January 16, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000155837024000373/0001558370-24-000373-index.htm

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