Certara leadership change: President and CCO departs

Certara, Inc. announced on August 4, 2026 that Leif E. Pedersen would depart his role as President and Chief Commercial Officer, effective August 1, 2026.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Certara, Inc. announced on August 4, 2026 that Leif E. Pedersen would depart his role as President and Chief Commercial Officer, effective August 1, 2026. He will remain an employee in a Senior Advisor role assisting with transition matters through December 31, 2026.

After December 31, 2026, Mr. Pedersen’s employment will be terminated without cause, and he will be entitled to severance benefits under his existing employment agreement dated July 30, 2020 and the company’s Executive Officer Severance Policy, as described in the “Executive Compensation-Termination and Severance” section of Certara’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 3, 2026.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Departure of President and Chief Commercial Officer Leif E. Pedersen effective August 1, 2026, with only a limited Senior Advisor role through December 31, 2026.

Filing Explained

The filing adds that Leif E. Pedersen’s roles as President and Chief Commercial Officer ended effective August 1, 2026; he remains an employee as a Senior Advisor handling transition matters until December 31, 2026.

8-K Event Classification

Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers

1 item

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Key Figures

Departure effective date: August 1, 2026 Announcement date: August 4, 2026 Senior Advisor period end: December 31, 2026 +2 more

5 metrics

Departure effective date August 1, 2026 Date Leif E. Pedersen ceased serving as President and Chief Commercial Officer

Announcement date August 4, 2026 Date Certara announced Leif E. Pedersen’s departure from his executive roles

Senior Advisor period end December 31, 2026 Date through which Mr. Pedersen will serve as Senior Advisor before termination without cause

Employment agreement date July 30, 2020 Date of Mr. Pedersen’s employment agreement with Certara USA, Inc. referenced for severance

Common stock par value $0.01 per share Par value of Certara’s common stock listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Key Terms

Emerging growth company, Executive Officer Severance Policy, Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, terminated without cause, +1 more

5 terms

Emerging growth company regulatory

"Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Emerging growth company"

An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.

Executive Officer Severance Policy financial

"employment agreement...and the Company’s Executive Officer Severance Policy."

Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A regulatory

"included under the heading “Executive Compensation-Termination and Severance” in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A"

terminated without cause regulatory

"at which time his employment will be terminated without cause and Mr. Pedersen will be entitled"

post-employment payments and benefits financial

"description of the post-employment payments and benefits included under the heading"

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What executive leadership change did Certara (CERT) disclose?

Certara disclosed that Leif E. Pedersen is departing his role as President and Chief Commercial Officer. His departure from these positions is effective August 1, 2026, and the company announced the change on August 4, 2026.

When does Leif E. Pedersen’s role change at Certara (CERT) take effect?

His departure as President and Chief Commercial Officer is effective August 1, 2026. Certara stated that, following this date, he will remain employed only as a Senior Advisor to assist with transition matters.

How long will Leif E. Pedersen serve as a senior advisor at Certara (CERT)?

He will serve as a Senior Advisor assisting with transition matters until December 31, 2026. On that date, Certara states his employment will end and his termination will be without cause under existing agreements.

Will Leif E. Pedersen receive severance from Certara (CERT)?

Yes. Certara states he will receive severance benefits when his employment ends on December 31, 2026. These are governed by his July 30, 2020 employment agreement and the company’s Executive Officer Severance Policy.

Is Leif E. Pedersen’s termination from Certara (CERT) described as for cause?

No. Certara specifies that Mr. Pedersen’s employment will be terminated without cause on December 31, 2026. This characterization affects his eligibility for severance benefits under the referenced employment and severance arrangements.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 30, 2026

Certara, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-39799	82-2180925
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

4 Radnor Corporate Center Suite 350
Radnor, Pennsylvania		19087
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(415) 237-8272

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share	CERT	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ¨

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On August 4, 2026, Certara, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the departure of Leif E. Pedersen from his role as the Company’s President, Chief Commercial Officer, effective as of August 1, 2026. The Company intends to retain Mr. Pedersen as an employee in a Senior Advisor role assisting with transition matters until December 31, 2026, at which time his employment will be terminated without cause and Mr. Pedersen will be entitled to severance benefits pursuant to the terms of his existing employment agreement with Certara USA, Inc., dated as of July 30, 2020, and the Company’s Executive Officer Severance Policy. Please refer to the description of the post-employment payments and benefits included under the heading “Executive Compensation-Termination and Severance” in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2026, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:	August 4, 2026	CERTARA, INC.
		(Registrant)
		By:	/s/ Daniel Corcoran
			Daniel Corcoran
			Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA 2.9 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE 33.4 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE 21.8 KB