Dale Hooks
Applied TherapeuticsAbout Dale Hooks
Dale Hooks, 58, has served as Applied Therapeutics’ Chief Commercial Officer since April 2024, bringing 30+ years of commercial leadership across rare disease and oncology launches; he holds a B.S. (Stephen F. Austin University) and an M.B.A. (UNC Chapel Hill) . Applied Therapeutics remains pre‑revenue and loss‑making (net loss $105.6M FY2024 vs. $119.8M FY2023), while its pay-versus-performance table shows a company TSR index value of 112.66 for 2024 versus 440.79 for 2023, framing a volatile equity backdrop during his tenure start in 2024 . Governance policies prohibit hedging/pledging, and the company has adopted a Dodd‑Frank clawback for executives, supporting pay-risk alignment .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reata Pharmaceuticals | VP, Global Commercial Operations | 2019–2023 | Led global commercial operations and product launch readiness in rare disease; senior commercial leadership in pre/early launch settings . |
| Clovis Oncology | Chief Commercial Officer | 2016–2018 | Built the global commercial organization and oversaw launch preparation for oncology assets . |
| Genentech; Galderma; Novartis; GSK | Various commercial roles | 1992–2014 | Progressively senior brand and portfolio roles across large-cap biopharma, managing global brands and launches . |
External Roles
No public company directorships or external board roles disclosed in company filings for Mr. Hooks .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary (earned) | $375,852 | Partial year from April 2024 appointment; current base set at $546,000 per offer letter . |
| Target annual bonus | 40% of base | Per Hooks Offer Letter (prorated in 2024) . |
| Actual annual bonus paid (2024) | $121,052 | Committee set payouts at 80% of target for Hooks for 2024 performance . |
| All other compensation | $14,676 | Primarily 401(k) match/benefits; as disclosed . |
Performance Compensation
| Incentive | Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual/Payout | Vesting/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cash bonus (2024) | Discretionary, based on company/individual performance | N/A | 40% of base (prorated) | 80% of target; $121,052 | Determined by Compensation Committee post year-end . |
| RSUs (grant 4/12/2024) | Time‑based | N/A | 300,000 units | Grant‑date fair value $1,548,000 | 25% vests 4/12/2025; remainder monthly over 36 months thereafter . |
| Stock options | N/A | N/A | — | — | No option awards disclosed for Hooks in 2024 . |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 162,500 shares (<1% of outstanding) . |
| Vested vs. unvested equity | As of 12/31/2024: 300,000 RSUs unvested; 25% scheduled to vest 4/12/2025; then monthly vesting thereafter . As of 4/11/2025: 81,250 RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days (timing disclosure) . |
| Options outstanding | None disclosed for Hooks . |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited for all directors and employees under insider trading policy (mitigates alignment risk) . |
| 10b5‑1 trading plans | No officer/director adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5‑1 plan during the six months ended 6/30/2025 or nine months ended 9/30/2025 (company‑level disclosure) . |
| Ownership guidelines | Executive stock ownership guidelines not disclosed; clawback policy adopted per Nasdaq rules for executive officers . |
Employment Terms
| Provision | Terms |
|---|---|
| Role/Start | Chief Commercial Officer; service since April 2024 . |
| Base/Bonus | Current base $546,000; annual discretionary bonus target up to 40% of base (prorated for 2024) . |
| Severance (termination w/o cause or for good reason) | • 12 months base salary continuation • Company‑paid health coverage up to 12 months (or until other coverage) • Target annual bonus for the year of termination • Full vesting of any then‑unvested equity awards (single‑trigger for these terms) . |
| Change‑in‑Control (CIC) equity acceleration | All NEO equity awards under the 2019 Plan become fully vested upon a change in control (plan‑level single‑trigger) . |
| Restrictive covenants | Subject to the company’s standard Employee Confidential Information, Inventions, Non‑Solicitation and Non‑Competition Agreement (duration/scope not disclosed) . |
| Clawback | Executive clawback policy adopted in compliance with SEC/Nasdaq rules . |
Investment Implications
- Alignment and retention: Hooks’ package is equity‑heavy (time‑based RSUs) with single‑trigger CIC acceleration and robust severance (salary, benefits, target bonus, full vesting), supporting retention through pivotal regulatory/commercial milestones but increasing potential dilution on vesting/CIC events .
- Selling pressure risk: A 25% RSU cliff vested on 4/12/2025 followed by monthly vesting could create periodic supply overhangs; however, company‑level disclosures show no new 10b5‑1 plan adoptions/terminations in 1H/3Q 2025, and hedging/pledging are prohibited, tempering near‑term selling mechanics .
- Pay‑for‑performance: 2024 cash bonus paid at 80% of target despite an FDA Complete Response Letter for govorestat and subsequent operational/legal costs, indicating committee discretion balancing individual performance and corporate challenges; 2025 say‑on‑pay support (57.65M For vs 3.31M Against) suggests shareholder tolerance of the design amid transition .
- Execution risk: Applied remains pre‑revenue with substantial net losses and significant 2024–2025 management turnover/litigation settlement dynamics, making commercial execution under Hooks’ remit a key driver of future value realization and justifying equity‑tilted incentives .
Key contemporaneous factors: FDA CRL for Classic Galactosemia (11/27/2024) and Warning Letter; net loss $105.6M in 2024; litigation settlement/insurance recovery effects in 2025; leadership transitions; say‑on‑pay approval at 2025 AGM .