---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-21-013733"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CRDF"
cik: "0001213037"
company_name: "Cardiff Oncology, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-07-12T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-30T05:58:55.018841+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.35
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Cardiff Oncology appoints Dr. Ruffner as CMO and James Levine as CFO, with inducement options

## Summary
- Dr. Ruffner appointed CMO, receives $430k base salary, 45% target bonus, and option for 200,000 shares at $6.55.
- James Levine appointed CFO, receives $425k base salary, 45% target bonus, and option for 390,000 shares at $6.55.
- Options vest over 4 years: 25% at 12 months, then monthly; granted as inducement under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4).
- Ruffner brings 25+ years oncology drug development; Levine has 20+ years biotech investment banking and corporate finance.
- Levine's employment agreement includes severance: 12 months salary if terminated without cause or for good reason, plus accelerated vesting upon change of control.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-21-013733
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CRDF
- cik: 0001213037
- company_name: Cardiff Oncology, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-07-12T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.35
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1213037/000162828021013733/0001628280-21-013733-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1213037/000162828021013733/crdf-20210706.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-21-013733
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-21-013733.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-21-013733.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Katherine Ruffner was appointed as Chief Medical Officer at Cardiff Oncology, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Medical Officer
  source text: On July 6, 2021, Cardiff Oncology, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Dr. Katherine Ruffner as Chief Medical Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1213037/000162828021013733/0001628280-21-013733-index.htm
- Executive change
  James Levine was appointed as Chief Financial Officer at Cardiff Oncology, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: In addition, on July 12, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement with James Levine (the “Levine Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Levine will be the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1213037/000162828021013733/0001628280-21-013733-index.htm

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