---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001683168-22-007358"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACTG"
cik: "0000934549"
company_name: "ACACIA RESEARCH CORP"
filed_at: "2022-11-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-22T06:24:45.391056+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Clifford Press resigns as CEO and President; COO Martin McNulty appointed interim CEO

## Summary
- Clifford Press resigned as CEO, President, and Board member, effective November 1, 2022.
- Resignation was not due to any disagreement with the Company on operations, policies, or practices.
- Martin D. McNulty Jr., current COO and Head of M&A, appointed interim CEO and Principal Executive Officer.
- Board intends to commence a search for a permanent successor; no changes to McNulty's compensation currently planned.
- No family relationships or transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) exist.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001683168-22-007358
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACTG
- cik: 0000934549
- company_name: ACACIA RESEARCH CORP
- filed_at: 2022-11-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/934549/000168316822007358/0001683168-22-007358-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/934549/000168316822007358/acacia_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-22-007358
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-22-007358.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-22-007358.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Martin D. McNulty Jr. was appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer at ACACIA RESEARCH CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Effective November 1, 2022, Martin D. McNulty Jr., the Company’s current Chief Operating Officer and Head of M&A, was appointed interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company and will serve as the Principal Executive Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/934549/000168316822007358/0001683168-22-007358-index.htm
- Executive change
  Clifford Press resigned as Member of the Board of Directors at ACACIA RESEARCH CORP.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Member of the Board of Directors
  source text: Effective November 1, 2022, Clifford Press resigned as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Acacia Research Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/934549/000168316822007358/0001683168-22-007358-index.htm
- Executive change
  Clifford Press resigned as Chief Executive Officer and President at ACACIA RESEARCH CORP.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer and President
  source text: Effective November 1, 2022, Clifford Press resigned as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Acacia Research Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/934549/000168316822007358/0001683168-22-007358-index.htm

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