Management Team

Mr. Stewart is a co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Achieve. He is also a director on the Achieve Board of Directors and previously served as Chairman. Mr. Stewart is also a founder and a director of Ricanto Limited, a pharmaceutical asset optimization company, since 2009. Mr. Stewart has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Renown Pharma Limited, a central nervous system company focused on Parkinson’s disease, since 2016. Prior to Achieve, Mr. Stewart was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Huxley Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a single-purpose central nervous system company, during 2009, prior to Huxley Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s acquisition by BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Mr. Stewart was Chief Executive Officer of Brabant Pharma Limited, a single-purpose central nervous system company, from 2013 to 2014 prior to Brabant Pharma’s acquisition by Zogenix Inc. He was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Amarin Corporation plc, a central nervous system company focused on Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, from 2000 to 2007. Mr. Stewart was a co-founder and Chief Financial Officer, and later Chief Business Officer, of SkyePharma plc, a drug delivery company specializing in controlled release formulations, and held such positions from 1995 to 1998. Mr. Stewart holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Bath.

Dr. Jacobs is an experienced executive in drug development with expertise in several indications and over 40 years’ experience in Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Jacobs has achieved regulatory success in several product approvals. Dr. Jacobs currently serves on the Board of Directors of Pacylex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and HiberCell Inc and previously served on the Board of Directors of Achieve Life Sciences from 2021 to 2025. Prior to joining Achieve Life Sciences as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer in 2017, Dr. Jacobs served as OncoGenex’s Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer since August 2008, and had been Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of OncoGenex Technologies Inc. from September 2005 to August 2008. From 1999 to July 2005, Dr. Jacobs served as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Clinical Development of Corixa Corporation. Prior to 1999, Dr. Jacobs held Vice President, Clinical Research positions at two other biopharmaceutical companies. Dr. Jacobs received her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Montana State University, her Master’s degree and Ph.D. degree in Veterinary Pathology/Microbiology from Washington State University and an M.D. degree from the University of Washington Medical School. She has in-depth biotechnology experience in preclinical development, pharmacokinetic/drug metabolism studies, toxicology studies, clinical operations, Phase 1-4 trials in a variety of therapeutic areas, regulatory affairs, biostatistics, data management, medical information and quality assurance. Based on her preclinical work at Immunex Corporation from 1980-1993, she is one of two inventors on the first patent for Enbrel.

Dr. Clarke has served as Achieve’s Chief Scientific Officer since 2015. Dr. Clarke is a founder and director of Ricanto Limited since 2009. From 2016 to the present, Dr. Clarke has been Chief Scientific Officer of Renown Pharma Limited. Dr. Clarke was Chief Scientific Officer of Huxley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. during 2009, prior to Huxley Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s acquisition by BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Prior to Achieve, Dr. Clarke served as Chief Scientific Officer of Brabant Pharma Limited from 2013 to 2014 prior to Brabant Pharma’s acquisition by Zogenix Inc. Dr. Clarke served as Company Secretary of Alexza UK Ltd. and as Vice President International Development Operations of Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc., a pharmaceutical development company, holding both positions from 2008 to 2009. Dr. Clarke served as the Vice President, Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs at Amarin Corporation from 2005 to 2008. In addition, Dr. Clarke was Senior Director, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, of Cephalon Europe and as Senior Director, Worldwide Pain Management, of Cephalon, Inc. from 2000 to 2004. Dr. Clarke held a number of management roles in other pharmaceutical companies prior to 2000 as well as academic posts and honorary academic posts. Dr. Clarke holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology from the University of Sunderland and a Ph.D. in psychopharmacology from the University of London. He was a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (UK) and is a current Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (UK).

Mr. Oki has served as our Chief Financial Officer since December 2024. From January 2022 to November 2024, Mr. Oki served as Chief Financial Officer of Aytu Biopharma, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing novel therapeutics and consumer healthcare products. From 2015 through January 2022, Mr. Oki served as Chief Financial Officer of Vivus LLC (formerly Vivus Inc.), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company formerly listed on Nasdaq. From 2006 to 2015, Mr. Oki held several positions at Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly listed specialty pharmaceutical company, most recently as Senior Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. Before Alexza, Mr. Oki held roles of increasing responsibility at Pharmacyclics, Inc. and Incyte Genomics, Inc. (now Incyte Corporation), both life sciences companies. Mr. Oki began his career in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche, LLP (now Deloitte). Mr. Oki received his degree in Business Administration – Accounting and graduated with honors from San Jose State University and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Ms. Jaime Xinos has 25 years of commercial experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. She is an inspirational thought leader, highly skilled in translating science into business as well as developing commercial strategies for specialty products across all stages of the product development continuum. Jaime has served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Achieve Life Sciences since October 2024. Prior to this role, she served as the Executive Vice President of Commercial at Achieve since joining in 2017. Prior to Achieve, Ms. Xinos was Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Communications at OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, an oncology biopharmaceutical company she initially joined as Senior Director, Global Oncology Commercial Development in 2010. Prior to OncoGenex, Ms. Xinos held various commercial roles in marketing, commercial development, and sales at Pfizer, Novartis, and Abbott Laboratories. She holds an undergraduate degree in Communications and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) both from the University of Illinois.

Craig Donnelly is the Chief Operations Officer at Achieve Life Sciences, following his previous position as Achieve’s Executive Vice President, CMC and Regulatory CMC. In this expanded role, Craig will be responsible for optimizing operations efficiency in the company's manufacturing, supply chain, CMC operations and product life-cycle management, while ensuring the company maintains the highest standards of quality and regulatory compliance.  With over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, Craig has expertise in both technical development and regulatory CMC at all stages of development. He formerly held senior roles in CMC and regulatory functions at companies including NuCana, ICON (formerly Mapi), and F. Hoffman-La Roche. He began his career at Pfizer as an analytical chemist before advancing to a project leadership role and served as a Team Leader at Almac Sciences. Craig holds a Bachelor’s with Honors in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Sunderland.