UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 27, 2017
CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-36500 | 94-3103561 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
7999 Gateway Blvd., Suite 130
Newark, CA 94560
(Address of principal executive offices)
(510) 293-8800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Retirement of Chief Executive Officer
On March 27, 2017, Harold Van Wart informed the Board of Directors of CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) that he will retire from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective as of April 14, 2017. Dr. Van Wart’s retirement was not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company expects to enter into a severance agreement with Dr. Van Wart.
Further, on March 27, 2017, Dr. Van Wart informed the Board of Directors of the Company that he will not be standing for reelection to the Board at the upcoming annual meeting of directors.
Appointment of Interim Chief Executive Officer
On March 27, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Sujal Shah as the Company’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 14, 2017. Mr. Shah, age 43, has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since December of 2013. Prior to that he served as a consultant and acting Chief Financial Officer for the Company from June 2012 to December 2013. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Shah served as Director, Health Care Investment Banking for Citigroup Inc., where he was responsible for managing client relationships and executing strategic and financing related transactions for clients focused in life sciences. From 2004 to 2010 Mr. Shah was employed with Credit-Suisse, last serving in the capacity as Vice President, Health Care Investment Banking Group. Mr. Shah received a MBA from Carnegie Mellon University—Tepper School of Business and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Sujal Shah | |
| Name: | Sujal Shah | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Dated: March 29, 2017