Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Director Resignations
On June 16, 2022, John J. Harrington, a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Athersys, Inc. (the “Company”), notified the Company of his resignation from the Board, effective immediately. Dr. Harrington has served on the Board since October 1995. Dr. Harrington’s decision to resign from the Board is due to the Company’s ongoing efforts to align its resources with its current strategy and operations and not the result of a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
On June 16, 2022, Hardy TS Kagimoto, a member of the Board, notified the Company of his resignation from the Board, effective immediately. Dr. Kagimoto has served on the Board since June 2018. Dr. Kagimoto’s decision to resign from the Board is due to the Company’s ongoing efforts to align its resources with its current strategy and operations and not the result of a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
On June 16, 2022, Katherine Kalin, a member of the Board, notified the Company of her resignation from the Board, effective immediately. Ms. Kalin has served on the Board since November 2020. Ms. Kalin’s decision to resign from the Board is due to the Company’s ongoing efforts to align its resources with its current strategy and operations and not the result of a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
On June 16, 2022, Lorin J. Randall, a member of the Board, notified the Company of his resignation from the Board, effective immediately. Mr. Randall has served on the Board since September 2007. Mr. Randall’s decision to resign from the Board is due to the Company’s ongoing efforts to align its resources with its current strategy and operations and not the result of a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
On June 16, 2022, Baiju R. Shah, a member of the Board, notified the Company of his resignation from the Board, effective immediately. Mr. Shah has served on the Board since November 2020. Mr. Shah’s decision to resign from the Board is due to the Company’s ongoing efforts to align its resources with its current strategy and operations and not the result of a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
The Company wishes to express its gratitude to Dr. Harrington, Dr. Kagimoto, Ms. Kalin, Mr. Randall and Mr. Shah for their contributions to the Board. Following their decisions to resign from the Board, the Board reduced its size to five members, effective immediately.
Appointment of Maia Hansen as Chief Operating Officer
On June 17, 2022, the Board appointed Maia Hansen as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Prior to this role, Ms. Hansen, 54, served as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain since March 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Hansen was a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, a global senior management consulting firm, since 2013, working in several end markets, including pharmaceuticals, medical device, consumer and industrials.
To reflect her increased level of responsibility and leadership in the Company, in connection with her promotion, Ms. Hansen received grants of 50,000 stock options and 33,333 time-vested restricted stock units.