Acrux CEO and Managing Director appointment
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX Announcement
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director appointment
Melbourne, Australia; 7 May 2025; Acrux Limited (ASX: ACR)
Acrux Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of John Warmbrunn as Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) and Managing Director. John will assume the role from 1 June 2025. This
follows from the previously announced retirement of Michael Kotsanis and a comprehensive
search process to select a successor.
John has over 25 years of experience in building and scaling businesses, particularly in the
healthcare sector. He held senior commercial roles for 12 years at Ego Pharmaceuticals,
Australia’s leading dermatological pharmaceutical company, leading growth of the company’s
export business to over 50% of turn-over. Ego Pharmaceuticals was acknowledged as
Australian Exporter of the Year in 2017. John started his industry career in sales at Sandoz
and took on various management roles as it merged to form Novartis, eventually establishing
the company’s OTC business in Australia and New Zealand. He also held a senior role with
Bristol Myers Squibb (Convatec). John gained experience in running a listed company as CEO
of Bendigo Community Telco (NSX: BCT) where he led the company to a successful IPO.
John has a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from the University of Melbourne, an MBA from
Macquarie Business School and is a Member and Graduate of the Australian Institute of
Company Directors. He has also been a Board Member of the Self Medication Industry (now
CHPA) Australia and on the Executive Committee of the Australia China Business Council.
Acrux Chairman, Ross Dobinson commented, “The Board is pleased to announce the
appointment of John as the new CEO of Acrux. He brings significant international commercial
experience to the Company at an important stage as our range of marketed products is
expanding. John’s leadership experience at Ego Pharmaceuticals will be highly relevant as
the Company expands it range internationally. He has proven ability to grow international
businesses and understands the core commercial drivers and how to leverage them to build
vibrant, profitable businesses.”
John Warmbrunn commented, “It is great to be joining Acrux at such an exciting stage in its
development. With a proven ability to bring products to market, I believe the company is well
poised for its next phase of growth. I am passionate about building and scaling Australian
businesses in international markets and Acrux certainly has many opportunities to enter new
topical, generic, pharma markets”.
Michael Kotsanis will cease to be CEO and Managing Director and a member of the Board of
Directors with effect from 30 May 2025. Michael will remain an employee until 4 July 2025 to
help ensure a well managed transition to the new CEO.
Key Terms of Offer of Employment
Item
Details
Role
CEO and Managing Director
Commencement
1 June 2025
Principal place of
103-113 Stanley Street, West Melbourne VIC 3003
work
Total Remuneration
A$405,000 pa inclusive of statutory obligations under the
Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth)
Short Term
Up to 30% of base remuneration (ie before superannuation) pa to
Incentive (STI)
be awarded at the sole discretion of the Board in recognition of
performance to, or exceeding, mutually agreed Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs and Stretch KPIs).
STI shall be payable in cash.
Long Term Incentive
(LTI)
KPIs and Stretch KPIs shall be initially and mutually agreed
between the Employee and the Board of Directors generally prior
to and not later than within two months of the commencement of
each financial year. Typically, two thirds of the STI potential is
linked to KPIs and one third to stretch KPIs.
No STI shall be payable in respect of FY25 financial year.
Subject to shareholder approval at the next General Meeting of
Shareholders or other ratification, the Employee shall be granted
8 million options over ordinary shares of Company under the
Company OEP (representing options over ~2% of the issued
capital of the Company) on the following terms:
Grants:
• Tranche #1: 1.6 million options as soon as practicable
after Commencement of Employment Contract
• Tranches #2-#5: 1.6 million options on each of the 1st,
2nd, 3rd and 4th anniversary of
Option issue price: $0.00
Vesting of each tranche: Each tranche shall vest 12 months after
grant, subject to continued employment
Notice Period
Exercise price:
• Tranche #1: the 10 day VWAP of the underlying shares at
time of execution of Employment Contract
• Tranche #2 – #5: the greater of the Tranche #1 exercise
price and the 10 day VWAP of the underlying shares at
time of grant of the relevant Tranche
Term: options may only be exercised during the period
commencing on the date of vesting of the option and ending on
the earlier of the third anniversary of vesting and the cessation of
employment
Other terms consistent with the Company ESOP
3 months by either Employee or Company
Authorised by the Board of Directors.
For more information, please contact
Michael Kotsanis
CEO & Managing Director
P: + 61 3 8379 0100
E: michael.kotsanis@acrux.com.au
Joanna Johnson
CFO and Company Secretary
P: + 61 3 8379 0100
E: joanna.johnson@acrux.com.au
About Acrux
Acrux is a specialty pharma company with a successful track record of developing and
commercialising a pipeline of topically applied pharmaceutical products. Drawing on 25 years
of experience, Acrux has successfully marketed through licensees a number of products
worldwide with emphasis on the United States. Acrux is formulating and developing a range
of topical generic products by leveraging its highly skilled workforce, on-site laboratories, GMP
manufacturing suite, technical, clinical and commercial experience to bring affordable
products to market. Acrux encourages collaboration and is well positioned to discuss
commercial partnering and product development opportunities. For further information on
Acrux, visit www.acrux.com.au
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