6 February 2018 - - Irvine, California-based ophthalmic pharmaceutical company Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AERI) has appointed Tad Heitmann as head of communications, reporting to Judith Robertson, Aerie's chief commercial officer, the company said.
Heitmann will head Aerie's corporate, commercial, and internal communications activities. He previously held leadership positions at BioComm Network, Inc. and Sam Brown, Inc. Healthcare Communications.
In connection with his acceptance of the position as head of communications, Heitmann will receive awards totaling 14,400 stock options.
The stock options will vest over 4 years, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the hire date and the remainder vesting ratably on each of the subsequent 36 monthly anniversaries of the hire date.
This award was made outside of Aerie's stockholder-approved equity incentive plan and was approved by the company's independent directors as an inducement material to Heitmann entering into employment with the company.
Aerie is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapies for the treatment of patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension and other diseases of the eye.