Deb Autor
Amneal PharmaceuticalsAbout Deb Autor
Independent director at Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX). Age 58. Former senior FDA leader (Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy) with extensive regulatory, quality, and compliance experience across FDA, AstraZeneca (Global Head of Regulatory Excellence, 2019–2021), and Mylan (Head of Global Quality and Regulatory Policy; Head of Global Quality, 2013–2019). Currently CEO of Healthcare Innovation Catalysts and Chair of the FDA Alumni Association .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy; previously Director, CDER Office of Compliance | 2001–2013 | Oversaw inspections, criminal investigations, international ops; led compliance policy for approvals, GMP, GCP, imports/exports, recalls |
| AstraZeneca | Global Head of Regulatory Excellence | 2019–2021 | Led multiple regulatory functions globally |
| Mylan N.V. | Head of Strategic Global Quality and Regulatory Policy; Head of Global Quality | 2013–2019 | Enterprise quality and policy leadership |
| U.S. DOJ | Trial Attorney, Office of Consumer Litigation | (prior to FDA) | Litigated cases on behalf of FDA |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Innovation Catalysts | CEO | Current |
| FDA Alumni Association | Chair of the Board | Current |
| Centre for Innovation in Regulatory Science (CIRS) | Scientific Advisory Council Member | Current |
| Antimicrobial Resistance Industry Alliance | Board Member | Current |
| United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) Quality Institute | Board Member | Current |
| Parenteral Drug Association | Board Member | Current |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined Deb Autor is independent under Nasdaq rules; AMRX maintains a majority-independent board and all four standing committees are fully independent despite “controlled company” status .
- Committee assignment: Audit Committee member; current Audit Committee roster: John Kiely (Chair), Emily Peterson Alva, Deb Autor, J. Kevin Buchi, Jeff George .
- Board leadership and engagement: Independent Chair (Paul Meister). Board met 7 times in 2024; each director attended ≥75% of aggregate board and committee meetings; all 11 directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Committee activity (2024 meetings): Audit 4; Compensation 6; Nominating & Corporate Governance 4; Conflicts 10—indicating active committee oversight (Conflicts Committee particularly engaged) .
- Controlled company note: AMRX is controlled by the Amneal Group but elects not to use Nasdaq controlled-company exemptions (e.g., maintains independent oversight) .
Fixed Compensation (Non‑Employee Director)
Program structure (2024): $75,000 annual cash retainer; additional cash fees per committee (Audit Chair/Member $25,000/$15,000; Compensation $20,000/$10,000; Nominating $15,000/$7,500; Conflicts $25,000/$15,000); per‑meeting stipend for >6 meetings per committee; annual equity grant (RSUs) of $250,000 target value (Chairman $350,000); one‑year cliff vesting; 2024 reverted to grant-date closing price methodology .
Director cash/equity actually paid to Deb Autor:
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | 124,833 | 115,000 |
| Stock Awards ($) | 142,203 | 250,002 |
| Total ($) | 267,036 | 365,002 |
Performance Compensation (Director Equity)
- Annual equity: RSUs only (no options typically granted to directors in 2024); one‑year cliff vesting aligns with shareholder outcomes without short‑term meeting‑based incentives .
- Deb Autor outstanding equity (12/31/2024): 40,258 RSUs; no options listed for Autor in 2024 director table .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Public company directorships: None disclosed for Deb Autor in the AMRX proxy .
- Non‑profit/industry boards: FDA Alumni Association (Chair), AMR Industry Alliance, USP Quality Institute, Parenteral Drug Association; advisory council at CIRS .
- Interlocks/related parties: No Deb Autor–specific related‑party transactions disclosed in the proxy; Conflicts Committee oversees related‑party matters (met 10x in 2024) .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Deep regulatory and compliance leadership (FDA Deputy Commissioner; AstraZeneca regulatory excellence; Mylan global quality/regulatory policy) .
- Legal background (DOJ Trial Attorney) strengthens oversight of litigation, compliance risk, and enforcement exposure .
- Governance signal: Placement on Audit Committee underscores financial literacy and risk oversight expectations; AMRX confirms Audit members meet Nasdaq financial sophistication (committee as a whole) .
Equity Ownership
| As of March 14, 2025 | Shares Owned | Options | RSUs | Total | % of Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deborah M. Autor | 53,402 | — | 40,258 | 93,660 | <1% |
Additional alignment policies:
- Director stock ownership guideline: 3x annual cash retainer; directors have achieved or are progressing toward compliance within five years .
- Anti‑hedging: Prohibits short sales and hedging by directors .
- Pledging: Directors and executive officers who are not Amneal Group members are prohibited from pledging company stock as loan collateral .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with heavyweight FDA/regulatory pedigree; active Audit Committee member; board maintains independent majority and independent committees despite controlled‑company status; strong director attendance; clear anti‑hedging/anti‑pledging posture; director equity paid in RSUs with simple one‑year vesting supports alignment without excessive risk .
- Potential watch‑items: AMRX remains a controlled company with extensive consent rights retained by the Amneal Group (structural governance risk); Conflicts Committee’s high activity is a positive mitigant but indicates frequent related‑party considerations inherent to controlled structures .
- Investor sentiment context: Say‑on‑pay support was 99.5% in 2024, signaling broad shareholder support for compensation governance practices (board‑level oversight relevance) .
No red flags identified specific to Deb Autor (no attendance shortfalls, no related‑party exposure disclosed, no pledging). Her regulatory expertise and Audit Committee service should be viewed as a positive for risk oversight and compliance rigor at AMRX .