---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001787306-23-000090"
form_type: "8-K/A"
ticker: "ARQT"
cik: "0001787306"
company_name: "Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-09-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-10T22:56:31.236855+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Arcutis appoints John Smither as interim CFO with $550K salary, option grant of 125K shares at $8.54

## Summary
- Base salary of $550,000 and target annual bonus of 45% of base salary.
- Option to purchase 125,000 shares at $8.54 per share, vesting 2.0833% monthly.
- Severance provides up to 12 months base salary and bonus, plus COBRA reimbursement, upon qualifying termination during change in control.
- Equity awards accelerate 100% upon qualifying termination during change in control period; performance awards vest at greater of target or actual.
- Employment effective August 31, 2023; Smither reports to CEO and serves as principal financial and accounting officer.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001787306-23-000090
- form_type: 8-K/A
- ticker: ARQT
- cik: 0001787306
- company_name: Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-09-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1787306/000178730623000090/0001787306-23-000090-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1787306/000178730623000090/arqt-20230815.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001787306-23-000090
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001787306-23-000090.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001787306-23-000090.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John Smither was appointed as interim chief financial officer at Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: interim chief financial officer
  source text: announcing the appointment of John Smither as the Company’s interim chief financial officer, effective as of August 31, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1787306/000178730623000090/0001787306-23-000090-index.htm

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