Jean-Pierre Bizzari
About Jean‑Pierre Bizzari
Jean‑Pierre Bizzari, M.D., age 70, has served as a Non‑Executive Director of ADC Therapeutics since June 2022. He was Executive Vice President, Group Head of Clinical Development Oncology at Celgene (2008–2015), and previously held senior clinical development roles at Sanofi, Aventis and Rhône‑Poulenc. He serves on France’s National Cancer Institute scientific advisory board and the board of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer; he holds an M.D. from Nice Medical School .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celgene Corporation | EVP, Group Head of Clinical Development Oncology | 2008–2015 | Led global oncology clinical development |
| Sanofi S.A. / Aventis / Rhône‑Poulenc | Senior clinical development roles | Not disclosed | Various senior clinical development positions |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford BioTherapeutics | Director | Current | Biotech board role |
| NETRIS Pharma | Director | Current | Biotech board role |
| APREA Therapeutics | Director | Current | Biotech board role |
| France’s National Cancer Institute | Scientific Advisory Board member | Current | National oncology SAB |
| EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) | Board member | Current | Pan‑European oncology R&D organization |
Board Governance
- Independence: The board affirmatively determined Bizzari is independent under NYSE standards .
- Committees: Chair, Nomination & Corporate Governance Committee; Member, Science & Technology Committee .
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, each director attended ≥75% of board and committee meetings for which they served; all directors attended the 2024 AGM .
- Board leadership: Ron Squarer (Chair, not independent); Peter Hug is Lead Independent Director and Vice‑Chair, presiding over executive sessions of independent directors .
- Nomination & Governance remit (as Chair): Oversees director searches, committee slates, board/committee self‑evaluations, succession planning, and compliance with the Business Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines .
- Science & Technology remit (as Member): Reviews R&D strategy and objectives, emerging science, talent motivation and market potential assessments .
- Hedging/pledging: Company policy prohibits directors from hedging and pledging company shares without board authorization .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Member retainer | $45,000 | Effective post‑AGM Jun 2024 | Standard member fee |
| Nomination & Corporate Governance Chair fee | $10,000 | Effective post‑AGM Jun 2024 | Committee chair fee |
| Science & Technology Committee member fee | $7,500 | Effective post‑AGM Jun 2024 | Committee member fee |
| Cash fees actually paid (2024) | $62,500 | FY 2024 | Matches role‑based fees |
| All other compensation (social benefits, etc.) | $827 | FY 2024 | Local social security/benefits |
| Total director compensation (cash + equity grant fair value) | $189,727 | FY 2024 | Sum of cash, equity FV, other |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Fair Value | Vesting | Year‑end Unvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (Non‑Employee Director annual grant) | Jun 13, 2024 | 40,000 | $126,400 | One‑year vest | 40,000 unvested RSUs at 12/31/2024 |
| Stock options (legacy awards) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | 12,246 unvested options at 12/31/2024 |
Director equity is time‑vested RSUs; no director performance metrics (e.g., TSR/operational KPIs) are disclosed for director awards. The board may provide for acceleration or other adjustments to director compensation upon change of control per policy .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Organization | Sector | Potential Interlock/Conflict Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford BioTherapeutics | Biotech | No ADCT related‑party transactions disclosed |
| NETRIS Pharma | Biotech | No ADCT related‑party transactions disclosed |
| APREA Therapeutics | Biotech | No ADCT related‑party transactions disclosed |
| France’s National Cancer Institute (SAB) | Public/Non‑profit | Advisory role; governance oversight at ADCT mitigates conflicts via related‑party policy |
| EORTC (Board) | Non‑profit | Research network; no ADCT related‑party transactions disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- 35+ years oncology drug development leadership, including EVP role at Celgene (2008–2015) .
- Medical doctor (Nice Medical School), deep clinical development expertise .
- Active governance roles in European oncology institutions (EORTC, France NCI SAB), adding scientific oversight credibility .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | As of Apr 1, 2024 | As of Apr 1, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (shares) | 40,676 | 61,416 |
| Ownership % of outstanding | <1% | <1% |
| Unvested RSUs | 40,000 (12/31/2024) | Not disclosed |
| Unvested options | 12,246 (12/31/2024) | Not disclosed |
Company policy prohibits hedging and pledging of company stock by directors unless authorized by the board; no pledging by Bizzari is disclosed .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Bizzari chairs Nominating & Corporate Governance and serves on Science & Technology, aligning his clinical development expertise with board oversight of talent, succession, and R&D strategy .
- Independence and engagement: Affirmed independent under NYSE rules; attendance ≥75% across board/committee meetings; attended 2024 AGM, supporting engagement .
- Ownership alignment: Holds 61,416 shares (<1%); director equity granted as time‑vested RSUs (40,000 in 2024), creating alignment albeit without performance conditions typical for executives .
- Compensation structure: 2024 mix of $62,500 cash retainers plus RSUs ($126,400 FV); no meeting fees disclosed; director compensation policy allows change‑of‑control adjustments, standard in market .
- Conflicts/related‑party exposure: No related‑party transactions involving Bizzari disclosed; company maintains audit committee oversight and formal related‑party transaction policy .
- Shareholder signals: Say‑on‑pay support was >93% at 2024 AGM, indicating constructive investor sentiment toward pay practices and governance .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Bizzari (no attendance issues, no related‑party transactions, no pledging/hedging reported) .
Notes on Company‑Level Governance Signals (context)
- Lead Independent Director structure in place given non‑independent Chair (Squarer), with Peter Hug presiding over executive sessions of independent directors .
- Formal clawback policy applies to executive officers and equity awards under company plans (executive context) .
- Related‑party policy requires audit committee approval/ratification for any transactions, reducing conflict risk .