---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-26-037387"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ZLAB"
cik: "0001704292"
company_name: "Zai Lab Ltd"
filed_at: "2026-05-21T21:18:49+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-21T21:27:47.084727+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Zai Lab President & COO Josh Smiley departs; responsibilities absorbed by CEO

## Summary
- Josh Smiley ceases as President and COO effective May 18, 2026; last day is May 22, 2026.
- CEO Samantha Du and management team assume his responsibilities.
- Smiley receives severance under his existing employment agreement subject to release.
- No replacement named; Du retains roles as Board Chair, Founder and CEO.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-26-037387
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ZLAB
- cik: 0001704292
- company_name: Zai Lab Ltd
- filed_at: 2026-05-21T21:18:49+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1704292/000162828026037387/0001628280-26-037387-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1704292/000162828026037387/zlab-20260518.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-037387
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-037387.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-037387.txt

## Source-grounded claims
- claim_id: cb8f4b2a75
  claim: Josh Smiley departed as President and Chief Operating Officer at Zai Lab Ltd.
  evidence_excerpt: On May 18, 2026, the Board of Directors of Zai Lab Limited (the “Company”) determined that Mr. Josh Smiley will cease serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, effective as of May 18, 2026, and his last day of employment with the Company will be May 22, 2026.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1704292/000162828026037387/0001628280-26-037387-index.htm

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