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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Akari Therapeutics raised CEO Abizer Gaslightwala’s annual base salary from $475,000 to $625,000 and increased his target annual bonus from 50% to 55% of base salary. The amended agreement also designates $62,500 of salary for restricted stock units (RSUs) and provides 174,000 options on American Depositary Shares (ADSs). Both equity awards are contingent on shareholder approval to increase the ADSs available under the company’s 2023 Equity Incentive Plan.
What changed in the CEO’s compensation
Investing.com reported on October 1, 2026, that Akari amended Gaslightwala’s agreement on September 29. The revised terms are effective August 18, 2026, so the salary increase applies from a date before the amendment.
| Compensation component | Reported terms |
|---|---|
| Annual base salary | Raised from $475,000 to $625,000, an increase of $150,000 a year. |
| Target annual bonus | Raised from 50% to 55% of base salary. Investing.com characterized target base salary plus bonus as approximately $970,000. |
| Salary designated for RSUs | $62,500, or 10% of the revised annual base salary, during the 12-month period beginning August 18, 2026. |
| ADS options | 174,000 options under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, dated August 18, 2026. |
The approximately $970,000 figure is a target compensation measure, not a guaranteed annual cash payment. A target bonus is distinct from base salary, and the reported percentage alone does not establish the actual bonus payout or its performance conditions.
How the RSUs and options work
RSUs replace part of salary with equity
The amended arrangement provides for $62,500 of base salary to be delivered as RSUs rather than cash during the 12 months beginning August 18, 2026. The RSUs were granted September 29 and are scheduled to vest in four equal quarterly installments on November 18, 2026; February 18, 2027; May 18, 2027; and August 18, 2027, according to Investing.com.
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Options are a separate award
The 174,000 ADS options are not the same award as the RSUs or the salary designated for RSUs. Investing.com reports that they vest in equal monthly installments over four years, with vesting deemed to have begun March 18, 2026. Options give the holder the right to buy shares at an exercise price; the reported summary does not state that price.
Shareholder approval is a condition of both equity awards
Both the RSU vesting and the option grant depend on shareholders approving an amendment to increase the number of ADSs reserved for issuance under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan. The approval contingency matters: the reported equity terms are not unconditional.
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- If approval is obtained: the RSU and option awards remain subject to their respective reported vesting schedules.
- If approval is not obtained: the RSUs will be forfeited and cancelled. Akari is to make adjustment payments intended to ensure Gaslightwala receives the full base salary for the period.
- For the options: Investing.com does not report an equivalent cash adjustment if approval fails.
The salary adjustment payment described in the report concerns the RSU-designated salary; it should not be read as a reported cash substitute for the separate option award.
How the new options compare with Akari’s prior CEO award
Akari’s June 2026 proxy statement describes its general equity-compensation rationale: rewarding contributions to long-term success, encouraging future performance, and using vesting to support executive retention. It says initial stock-option awards for employee named executive officers may be followed by annual awards of options, RSUs, or a combination.
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The proxy also reports that in 2025 Gaslightwala received options to purchase 2.2 billion ordinary shares, with 25% scheduled to vest on March 20, 2026 and the balance monthly over the following 36 months. That prior award is denominated in ordinary shares and is separate from the new 174,000 ADS options reported in connection with the amended agreement; the figures are not directly comparable without the relevant share and depositary-share terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is established about the reported terms
The specific September 2026 compensation details here are based on Investing.com’s October 1, 2026 report, which attributes them to a recent SEC filing. The underlying amended agreement is not quoted here, so legal provisions beyond the reported summary should not be inferred. Akari’s proxy statement supplies company context but predates the amendment and does not independently confirm its specific terms.
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- Investing.com’s October 1, 2026 report on the amendment
- Akari Therapeutics SEC filings page
- Akari Therapeutics’ June 2026 proxy statement
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