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Companies Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.

Aquestive Therapeutics (AQST): executive pay, fiscal 2025

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CEO total pay$3,493,559CEO Daniel Barber · source
Say-on-pay support92.21%Latest vote · source

CEO pay, last three years

  • $2,496,141FY2023
  • $4,181,472FY2024
  • $3,493,559FY2025

CEO total pay was $3,493,559 in fiscal 2025, down from $4,181,472 in fiscal 2024.

FY2025: salary $659,885 · bonus $0 · stock awards $1,547,342 · option awards $877,200

Executives and directors

Frequently asked questions

Who was the highest-paid executive at Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. in fiscal 2025?
As disclosed, Daniel Barber (President and Chief Executive Officer) was the highest-paid executive at Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. in fiscal 2025, with total compensation of $3,493,559.
How did shareholders vote on Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.'s executive compensation?
As disclosed, 92.21% of shareholders supported Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.'s executive compensation in the latest say-on-pay vote.
How much does Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. spend in total on board compensation for fiscal 2025?
As disclosed, Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. reported total board compensation of $541,401 for fiscal 2025.

Answers are drawn only from the figures disclosed in this brief and cited to their location in the source filing. Where a figure required for an answer is not disclosed, that is stated rather than estimated.

Full detail

Every table from the filing. Open any section.

Summary compensation table
Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
Daniel Barber$659,885$0$1,547,342$877,200$409,132$0$0$3,493,559
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lori Braender457,9620524,150129,000237,126001,348,238
Corporate Secretary, Former Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.442,5990524,150129,000227,798001,323,547
Chief Financial Officer

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2025 totalFY2024 totalFY2023 totalΔ FY2024→2025
Daniel Barber$3,493,559$4,181,472$2,496,141↓ −687,913
Lori Braender1,348,2381,821,0251,193,965↓ −472,787
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.1,323,547—1,115,887—

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Our goal is to provide compensation that emphasizes pay-for-performance, rewarding those who achieve or exceed their goals, and seeking to drive long-term value for our stockholders through the use of both short-term and long-term incentive programs.

CEO STI target (% of salary)60%
CEO LTI target (% of salary)—
Independent consultantAon
Clawback policytrue
Anti-hedgingtrue
Anti-pledgingtrue
Equity grants and outstanding awards

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2025

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
Daniel BarberPSU—————$1,547,342
Daniel BarberOPTION—————877,200
Lori BraenderPSU—————524,150
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.PSU—————524,150
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.OPTION—————129,000
Lori BraenderOPTION—————129,000

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
Daniel Barber$0$1,547,342$877,20063.8%
Lori Braender0524,150129,00080.2%
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.0524,150129,00080.2%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2025

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.Option2,5005.3—
Daniel BarberOption25,9976.54—
Lori BraenderOption40,0000.88—
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.Option40,0000.88—
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.Option45,0005.68—
Daniel BarberOption50,0004.83—
Lori BraenderOption50,6255.68—
Lori BraenderOption60,0001.54—
Lori BraenderOption60,0002.65—
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.Option60,0002.65—
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.PSU70,000—170,800
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.RSU70,0002.55—
Daniel BarberOption70,0008.05—
Lori BraenderPSU75,000—183,000
Lori BraenderRSU75,0005.3—
Lori BraenderPSU82,500—232,650
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.PSU82,500—232,650
Lori BraenderOption85,00018.67—
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.RSU90,000—511,200
Daniel BarberOption96,50715—
Daniel BarberOption100,0000.88—
Daniel BarberOption100,0005.3—
Lori BraenderOption100,0008.05—
Lori BraenderRSU101,250—575,100
Lori BraenderRSU110,000—291,500
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.RSU110,000—291,500
Daniel BarberOption110,0001.54—
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.Option120,0004.04—
Lori BraenderOption160,0002.55—
Daniel BarberRSU181,950—1,033,476
Daniel BarberPSU223,500—545,340
Daniel BarberOption225,0002.55—
Daniel BarberOption272,9255.68—
Daniel BarberRSU293,100—826,542
Daniel BarberPSU293,100—826,542
Daniel BarberOption408,0002.65—
Director compensation
DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Gregory B. Brown, M.DIndependent · Board Chair · Nominating/Governance · Compensation · Audit$127,500$0$143,220$0$3,921$274,641
John S. CochranIndependent · Nominating/Governance (Chair) · Compensation (Chair)91,2500143,22006,449240,919
Timothy E. MorrisIndependent · Compensation · Audit (Chair)88,7500143,22005,642237,612
Julie Krop, M.DIndependent · Compensation · Audit · Science & Technology (Chair)90,0000143,22000233,220
Marco Taglietti, M.DIndependent · Audit · Science & Technology68,7500143,22001,442213,412
Abigail L. JenkinsIndependent · Nominating/Governance55,0000143,22002,697200,917
Daniel BarberEmployee director000—00

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$50,000
Annual equity retainer$143,220
Per board meeting fee—
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)20,000 / 17,500 / 10,000
Stock ownership guideline—

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2025
Cash retainers and fees$521,250
Equity awards (grant-date value)$0
All other compensation$20,151
Total cost of the board$541,401

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

Peer group, and who names Aquestive Therapeutics as a peer

Companies that benchmark against AQST

6 companies name AQST as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses AQST in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named AQST in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company’s own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.2025Daniel Barber$659,885$1,547,342$877,200$409,132$3,493,559

Each peer’s compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer’s figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

Say-on-pay history and pay ratio
Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20262026-06-1037,798,6093,192,3811,604,75492.21%Passed
20252025-06-1132,454,2786,694,084459,18882.9%Passed

Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year’s compensation.

Say-on-pay — history, company’s computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company’s computation
20262026-06-1092.21%a
20252025-06-1182.9%b

a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as votes cast for this purpose and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of this vote.”.

b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as votes cast for this purpose and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of this vote.”.

Approval percentages are the company’s own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.

CEO pay ratio

Ratio (CEO : median employee)—
CEO total compensation—
Median employee compensation—
Insider trades since the proxy

Every insider equity transaction reported on Form 4 after the 2025 proxy statement — acquisitions, dispositions, exercises, and withholdings — and therefore not reflected in any table in that document.

InsiderRoleTransaction dateCodeSharesPriceValueSecuritySource
Lori BraenderCorporate Secretary2026-05-05D76,147$4$318,294CommonForm 4 ↗
Cassie JungChief Operating Officer2026-05-05D72,7344304,028CommonForm 4 ↗
A. Ernest Toth, Jr.Chief Financial Officer2026-05-05D92,6524387,285CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberPresident and CEO2026-05-05D335,92241,404,154CommonForm 4 ↗
Peter E. BoydChief People Officer2026-05-05D56,7784237,332CommonForm 4 ↗
Lori BraenderCorporate Secretary2026-05-07D135,6904573,969CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberPresident and CEO2026-05-15D8,257435,413CommonForm 4 ↗
Melina CioffiSVP, Regulatory Affairs2026-05-15D1,66746,951CommonForm 4 ↗
Thomas A. ZalewskiChief Legal Officer2026-05-18A75,00000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Thomas A. ZalewskiChief Legal Officer2026-05-18A100,00000CommonForm 4 ↗
Sherry KorczynskiChief Commercial Officer2026-06-08D2,71400CommonForm 4 ↗
Marco TagliettiDirector2026-06-10A50,50000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
John S. CochranDirector2026-06-10A50,50000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Julie KropDirector2026-06-10A50,50000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Gregory B. BrownDirector2026-06-10A50,50000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Abigail L. JenkinsDirector2026-06-10D50,50000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Timothy E. MorrisDirector2026-06-10A50,50000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberPresident and CEO2026-06-15D25,0004104,010CommonForm 4 ↗
Julie KropDirector2026-06-23D25,00000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Julie KropDirector2026-06-23D25,0005125,393CommonForm 4 ↗
Julie KropDirector2026-06-23A25,000117,830CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberPresident and CEO2026-07-15D4,631418,683CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberPresident and CEO2026-07-16D20,369481,509CommonForm 4 ↗
Sherry KorczynskiChief Commercial Officer2026-08-14D2,714411,535CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberDirector2026-08-17D25,0004107,168CommonForm 4 ↗
Cassie JungChief Operating Officer2026-09-03D4,58700Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Cassie JungChief Operating Officer2026-09-03A4,58714,404CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberDirector2026-09-08D91,74300Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberDirector2026-09-08A91,743188,073CommonForm 4 ↗
Sherry KorczynskiChief Commercial Officer2026-09-09D8,75000Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Sherry KorczynskiChief Commercial Officer2026-09-09D8,750545,675CommonForm 4 ↗
Sherry KorczynskiChief Commercial Officer2026-09-09A8,750323,188CommonForm 4 ↗
Peter E. BoydChief People Officer2026-09-09D2,29300Derivative, Class A CommonForm 4 ↗
Peter E. BoydChief People Officer2026-09-09A2,29312,201CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberDirector2026-09-15D25,0005120,488CommonForm 4 ↗
Daniel BarberDirector2026-10-15D25,0004105,600CommonForm 4 ↗
John S. CochranDirector2026-10-21A62,22900CommonForm 4 ↗

Transaction codes per Form 4: A acquisition · S open-market sale · F tax withholding · M option exercise · G gift. Value = shares × price as reported. Dividend-equivalent and fractional-share accrual rows (derivative Class A, under $10,000 and under 2,000 shares) are aggregated per date; every row appears in full below.

Sources (60 citations)

Each figure is listed with the filing it comes from, where it appears in that filing, and the value as printed. Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

  • Section 01, Daniel Barber. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 25. As printed: 3,493,559. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Lori Braender. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 25. As printed: 1,348,238. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, A. Ernest Toth, Jr.. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 25. As printed: 1,323,547. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Daniel Barber PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Daniel Barber OPTION. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Lori Braender PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, A. Ernest Toth, Jr. PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, A. Ernest Toth, Jr. OPTION. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Lori Braender OPTION. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 07, pay ratio. 10-K, filed 2026-03-04. Section “CEO Pay Ratio”. As printed: —. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Gregory B. Brown, M.D. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 274,641. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, John S. Cochran. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 240,919. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Timothy E. Morris. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 237,612. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Julie Krop, M.D. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 233,220. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Marco Taglietti, M.D. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 213,412. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Abigail L. Jenkins. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 200,917. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Daniel Barber. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Lori Braender 2026-05-05. Form 4, filed 2026-05-07. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Cassie Jung 2026-05-05. Form 4, filed 2026-05-07. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, A. Ernest Toth, Jr. 2026-05-05. Form 4, filed 2026-05-07. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-05-05. Form 4, filed 2026-05-07. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Peter E. Boyd 2026-05-05. Form 4, filed 2026-05-07. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Lori Braender 2026-05-07. Form 4, filed 2026-05-11. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-05-15. Form 4, filed 2026-05-18. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Melina Cioffi 2026-05-15. Form 4, filed 2026-05-18. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Thomas A. Zalewski 2026-05-18. Form 4, filed 2026-05-19. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Thomas A. Zalewski 2026-05-18. Form 4, filed 2026-05-19. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Sherry Korczynski 2026-06-08. Form 4, filed 2026-06-09. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Marco Taglietti 2026-06-10. Form 4, filed 2026-06-12. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, John S. Cochran 2026-06-10. Form 4, filed 2026-06-12. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Julie Krop 2026-06-10. Form 4, filed 2026-06-12. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Gregory B. Brown 2026-06-10. Form 4, filed 2026-06-12. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Abigail L. Jenkins 2026-06-10. Form 4, filed 2026-06-12. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Timothy E. Morris 2026-06-10. Form 4, filed 2026-06-12. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-06-15. Form 4, filed 2026-06-16. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Julie Krop 2026-06-23. Form 4, filed 2026-06-24. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Julie Krop 2026-06-23. Form 4, filed 2026-06-24. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Julie Krop 2026-06-23. Form 4, filed 2026-06-24. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-07-15. Form 4, filed 2026-07-17. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-07-16. Form 4, filed 2026-07-17. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Sherry Korczynski 2026-08-14. Form 4, filed 2026-08-17. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-08-17. Form 4, filed 2026-08-18. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Cassie Jung 2026-09-03. Form 4, filed 2026-09-08. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Cassie Jung 2026-09-03. Form 4, filed 2026-09-08. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-09-08. Form 4, filed 2026-09-09. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-09-08. Form 4, filed 2026-09-09. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Sherry Korczynski 2026-09-09. Form 4, filed 2026-09-11. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Sherry Korczynski 2026-09-09. Form 4, filed 2026-09-11. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Sherry Korczynski 2026-09-09. Form 4, filed 2026-09-11. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Peter E. Boyd 2026-09-09. Form 4, filed 2026-09-10. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Peter E. Boyd 2026-09-09. Form 4, filed 2026-09-10. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-09-15. Form 4, filed 2026-09-16. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Daniel Barber 2026-10-15. Form 4, filed 2026-10-16. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, John S. Cochran 2026-10-21. Form 4, filed 2026-10-23. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2026 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2026-06-10. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 92.21% (votes for as printed: 37,798,609). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2025 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2025-06-11. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 82.9% (votes for as printed: 32,454,278). View filing ↗
  • Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed). Computed. Δ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.
  • Section 03b vehicle mix (computed). Computed. RSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).
  • Section 09b board cost (computed). Computed. Cash 521,250 + equity 0 + all other 20,151 = 541,401, summed across the director compensation table rows.
  • Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (subject), Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. CEO total compensation as printed in Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,493,559. View filing ↗
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