Aquestive names Thomas Zalewski as chief legal officer

Aquestive Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: AQST) appointed Thomas A. Zalewski as chief legal officer and chief compliance officer, effective April 2, 2026. Zalewski, currently a partner at Day Pitney LLP where he chairs the healthcare and life sciences practice, will succeed Lori J. Braender.

Braender, who has served in the roles for nearly eight years since joining the company in September 2018, will remain as corporate secretary in a non-executive capacity. She previously worked as an attorney at Day Pitney LLP for 35 years, most recently as a partner and chair of the firm's life sciences practice group.

Zalewski brings experience advising life sciences, technology and healthcare companies on mergers and acquisitions, licensing, intellectual property transactions, corporate governance and regulatory matters. He previously served as a senior legal team member at Dendrite International Inc., now known as IQVIA.

Under the company's 2022 equity inducement plan, Zalewski will receive 100,000 restricted stock units and 75,000 non-qualified common stock options. The awards will be granted on the second full trading date following the next quarterly or annual financial results release, with the options exercisable at the closing stock price on May 8, 2026.

The equity awards will vest 25% after each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date, and 50% on the third anniversary, subject to continued employment. The options have a 10-year term and were approved by the independent compensation committee as an employment inducement under Nasdaq listing rules.

Warren, New Jersey-based Aquestive develops pharmaceutical products using oral film delivery technologies and operates manufacturing facilities in Indiana.

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