---
title: "Heron names Craig Collard amendment and revises retention agreements for Duarte, Forbes and Hensley"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/281760076.md"
description: "Heron Therapeutics has amended CEO Craig Collard's employment agreement and updated retention agreements for executives Ira Duarte, William Forbes, and Mark Hensley. The changes, effective April 3, 2026, include revisions to termination, change-in-control equity treatment, and severance terms. The amendments clarify definitions, update governing law to North Carolina, and introduce protective covenants. The agreements also provide severance and vesting acceleration terms, along with COBRA benefits, while removing obsolete provisions from prior agreements."
datetime: "2026-04-06T12:33:01.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/281760076.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281760076.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/281760076.md)
---

# Heron names Craig Collard amendment and revises retention agreements for Duarte, Forbes and Hensley

**Heron amended CEO Craig Collard's employment agreement and restated retention agreements for executives Ira Duarte, William Forbes and Mark Hensley, updating termination, change-in-control and severance terms.**

Individual

Craig Collard

Ira Duarte

William Forbes

Mark Hensley

Role

Chief Executive Officer

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Type of Change

Amendment and restatement of employment agreement

Amended and restated management retention agreement

Amended and restated management retention agreement

Amended and restated management retention agreement

Effective Date

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

Reason

Amend terms relating to termination, CIC equity treatment, bonus mechanics, restrictive covenants, governing law/location

Revise termination, CIC equity treatment, bonus and equity severance, governing law; add protective covenants

Revise termination, CIC equity treatment, bonus and equity severance, governing law; add protective covenants

Revise termination, CIC equity treatment, bonus and equity severance, governing law; add protective covenants

Replacement Info

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Background Details

Amendment clarifies CIC definition; updates location and governing law to North Carolina; adds confidentiality, invention assignment, 24-month non-compete/non-solicit; clarifies bonus payment conditions; removes obsolete provisions

Agreements amend prior retention pacts (Duarte: June 16, 2023); provide severance and vesting acceleration terms; COBRA benefits; update governing law to North Carolina

Agreements amend prior retention pact (Forbes: June 6, 2023); provide severance and vesting acceleration terms; COBRA benefits; update governing law to North Carolina

Agreements amend prior retention pact (Hensley: April 28, 2025); provide severance and vesting acceleration terms; COBRA benefits; special immediate vesting treatment for certain performance-based stock options upon Involuntary Termination outside CIC window; update governing law to North Carolina

Board/Committee Role Changes

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Original SEC Filing: HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC. /DE/ \[ HRTX \] - 8-K - Apr. 06, 2026

**Disclaimer**

This is an AI-powered summary. It may contain inaccuracies. Consider verifying important information with the source. Please note this summary is solely based on documents filed with the SEC.

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