---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001683168-22-006665"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "PHIO"
cik: "0001533040"
company_name: "Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp."
filed_at: "2022-09-29T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-23T06:41:39.480982+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Phio Pharmaceuticals appoints Robert Bitterman as interim Executive Chairman, effective Sept. 26, 2022

## Summary
- Robert Bitterman, Board Chairman since 2012, named interim Executive Chairman and principal executive/financial officer.
- Bitterman receives $175,000 annual base salary (incl. $55,000 Board fee) and 40,000 RSUs vesting Oct. 1, 2023.
- Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh ceases as interim principal executive/financial officer and resumes independent Board role.
- Robert Ferrara appointed Lead Independent Director; he chairs the Audit Committee and is a CPA.
- Press release issued Sept. 29, 2022, announcing the leadership changes.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001683168-22-006665
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: PHIO
- cik: 0001533040
- company_name: Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.
- filed_at: 2022-09-29T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1533040/000168316822006665/0001683168-22-006665-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1533040/000168316822006665/phio_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-22-006665
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-22-006665.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-22-006665.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Geert Cauwenbergh changed role as Independent Director at Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp..
  - Action: ceased serving as interim PEO/PFO and resumed independent director role
  - Role: Independent Director
  source text: Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh, a member of the Company’s Board, will no longer serve as the Company’s interim principal executive officer and interim principal financial officer, which positions he held since May 4, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1533040/000168316822006665/0001683168-22-006665-index.htm
- Executive change
  Robert J. Bitterman was appointed as Interim Executive Chairman at Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim Executive Chairman
  source text: approved the appointment of Robert J. Bitterman, Chairman of the Company’s Board, to serve as the Company’s interim Executive Chairman, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1533040/000168316822006665/0001683168-22-006665-index.htm

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