Achieve Life Sciences names Benjamin Halladay as new CFO

Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. disclosed in an 8-K dated October 1, 2026 that its Board of Directors appointed Benjamin Halladay as Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer, effective October 5, 2026.¹

Halladay, age 40, comes to Achieve after a series of roles at Esperion Therapeutics. According to the filing, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Esperion from November 2022 until September 2026, and before that held titles including Senior Director of Finance, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, and Finance Manager of Tech Operations dating back to January 2020.¹ Earlier in his career, he spent from May 2017 through January 2020 as Global Finance Manager at NOV Inc., formerly National Oilwell Varco, Inc., an oilfield services and equipment trading company.¹ He holds degrees from Syracuse University and Fordham's Gabelli School of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant, per the filing.

Under the terms disclosed, Halladay's compensation package includes an initial base salary of $525,000 per year, a discretionary bonus of up to 40% of base salary, an option for 200,000 shares vesting over four years, and 200,000 restricted stock units vesting on a similar schedule.¹ The agreement also sets severance terms, including a lump-sum payment of nine months' base salary in a standard termination, or 12 months' base salary plus a prorated bonus and accelerated equity vesting if the termination occurs in connection with a change in control.¹

The filing states there are no other arrangements tied to his appointment and no family relationships between Halladay and the company's other directors or officers.¹

Separately, the company said Mark Oki stepped down from his position as Chief Financial Officer, effective October 5, 2026.¹ Achieve stated the conclusion of Oki's employment was not the result of any disagreement over the company's financial statements or disclosures.¹ Oki will receive severance as outlined in his December 5, 2024 employment agreement, according to the filing.