---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001558370-24-000769"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACRS"
cik: "0001557746"
company_name: "Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc."
filed_at: "2024-02-05T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-06T09:08:48.793615+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Aclaris terminates CMO, enters separation with former CEO; promotes CSO to full-time

## Summary
- Terminated Gail Cawkwell as CMO effective Jan 31, 2024, without cause; receives 12-month salary continuation and COBRA coverage.
- Entered separation agreement with former CEO Douglas Manion on Feb 4, 2024; receives 12-month salary continuation plus unpaid 2023 bonus.
- Amended CSO Joseph Monahan's employment; base salary raised to $430,000, moves from part-time to full-time effective Feb 1, 2024.
- Monahan’s new agreement has a 2-year initial term with automatic one-year renewals unless 90-day notice is given.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001558370-24-000769
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACRS
- cik: 0001557746
- company_name: Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
- filed_at: 2024-02-05T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000155837024000769/0001558370-24-000769-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000155837024000769/acrs-20240131x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-24-000769
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-24-000769.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001558370-24-000769.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Douglas Manion departed as Chief Executive Officer and President at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: departed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer and President
  source text: On February 4, 2024, in connection with Douglas Manion’s departure from the Company as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, the Company and Dr. Manion entered into a Separation Agreement
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000155837024000769/0001558370-24-000769-index.htm
- Executive change
  Gail Cawkwell was terminated as Chief Medical Officer at Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: terminated
  - Role: Chief Medical Officer
  source text: On January 31, 2024, Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”) terminated the employment of Gail Cawkwell, M.D., PhD., the Company's Chief Medical Officer, without cause, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557746/000155837024000769/0001558370-24-000769-index.htm

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