UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On June 16, 2025, Dr. James A. Hayward informed Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (the “Company”) of his intention to retire from the Company and that he will step down from his positions as Chief Executive Officer, member of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) and Chairman of the Board effective June 18, 2025. Dr. Hayward’s resignation is not the result of any dispute or disagreement with the Company or the Board on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
In connection with Dr. Hayward’s retirement, Dr. Hayward and the Company entered into a separation agreement dated June 16, 2025 (the “Separation Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company shall pay to Dr. Hayward, contingent upon his compliance with the terms of the Separation Agreement, the total gross amount of $450,000 to be paid over a period of eight months from the date of first payment, with the first installment being paid on or before July 15, 2025. The Separation Agreement also provides for a customary general release of claims in favor of the Company and customary post-employment covenants, including with respect to confidentiality and non-disparagement.
The foregoing summary of the Separation Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Separation Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
On June 17, 2025, the Board elected Judith Murrah, the Company’s current President, as Chief Executive Officer and as Chairperson and a member of the Board effective June 18, 2025.
Ms. Murrah, age 67, has served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer since January 19, 2021, Chief Information Officer since June 1, 2013, Secretary since December 22, 2017 and President since December 13, 2024. Before joining the Company, Ms. Murrah was the Senior Director of Information Technology at Motorola Solutions, which had acquired her former firm, Symbol Technologies. Her role at Motorola Solutions included overseeing the global IT program management office, financial and supplier operations and quality assurance. At Symbol Technologies, Ms. Murrah held leadership positions in product line management, global account sales, corporate and marketing communications and IT. Ms. Murrah holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. She is an inventor on 14 U.S. patents. Ms. Murrah is active in Long Island’s business and academic community. She has co-founded and volunteers with non-profits engaging students in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines. She serves on the boards of the Middle Country Library Foundation, the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, and Stony Brook University’s Center for Corporate Education. Ms. Murrah was named to the Top 50 Women of Long Island Hall of Fame in 2023 and received the inaugural 2001 Diamond Award for Long Island Women Leaders in Technology.
For serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson, Ms. Murrah’s compensation paid by the Company will continue at its current amount, with an annual base salary of $400,000. She will not receive any additional compensation for serving as a member of the Board.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Murrah and any other persons pursuant to which she was elected as an officer or director. Ms. Murrah does not have any family relationships with any of the Company’s directors or executive officers. There are no transactions involving the Company and Ms. Murrah that the Company would be required to report pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On June 17, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing the retirement of Dr. Hayward and the election of Ms. Murrah as Chief Executive Officer, director and Chairperson. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description |
| 10.1 | Separation Agreement, dated June 16, 2025, by and between the Company and Dr. James A. Hayward. |
| 99.1 | Press Release, dated June 17, 2025. |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: June 17, 2025 | APPLIED DNA SCIENCES, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Beth Jantzen | |
| Name: | Beth Jantzen | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |