Neha Krishnamohan
About Neha Krishnamohan
Independent Class III Director at Arcutis Biotherapeutics since September 2022; age 38 as of April 15, 2025. Currently CFO and EVP, Corporate Development at Artiva Biotherapeutics; previously CFO and EVP, Corporate Development at Kinnate Biopharma (June 2021–April 2024); earlier Vice President in Goldman Sachs’ Healthcare Investment Banking. Education: B.S.E. (Biomedical Engineering and Economics), Duke University. Recognized by the Board as having finance and accounting expertise and designated an Audit Committee “financial expert.”
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinnate Biopharma Inc. | Chief Financial Officer and EVP, Corporate Development | Jun 2021–Apr 2024 | Senior executive overseeing corporate development; company later acquired by XOMA (Apr 2024) |
| Goldman Sachs | Various roles; most recently Vice President, Healthcare Investment Banking | Jul 2008–Jun 2021 | Advised biopharma boards and management on financings and M&A |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. | Chief Financial Officer and EVP, Corporate Development | Current (as of 2025) | Off‑the‑shelf NK cell therapy company (autoimmune/oncology focus) |
Board Governance
- Board class/tenure: Class III; term expires at 2026 annual meeting; director since 2022 .
- Independence: Board determined her independent status under Nasdaq rules; Audit Committee membership meets heightened independence standards .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member (Chair: Sue‑Jean Lin); also designated an SEC audit committee “financial expert” .
- Attendance: 100% attendance at 2024 Board and applicable committee meetings; Board met 5x, Audit 5x, Comp 5x, Nominating 3x .
- Engagement: Audit Committee oversees financial reporting, auditor oversight, related‑person transactions, and IT/cyber programs; she is one of three members .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Period/Grant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual base retainer (cash) | $50,000 | 2024 | Non‑Employee Director Compensation Program |
| Audit Committee member fee (cash) | $10,000 | 2024 | Non‑Employee Director Compensation Program |
| Total cash fees | $60,000 | 2024 | As reported in Director Compensation Table |
| Annual option award (fair value) | $162,500 | 2024 | Part of $250,000 annual equity mix (65% options) |
| Annual RSU award (fair value) | $87,500 | 2024 | Part of $250,000 annual equity mix (35% RSUs) |
| Total equity (fair value) | $250,000 | 2024 | Standard annual director grant |
| Initial director option grant (fair value) | $500,000 | At board entry | For newly appointed/elected directors |
- Vesting/terms: Annual director RSUs vest fully by next annual meeting or first anniversary; options set at grant‑date closing price; all unvested director equity vests in full immediately prior to a change‑in‑control .
Performance Compensation
- No performance-based director compensation is disclosed; annual equity grants for directors are time‑vested (RSUs and options) rather than PSU or performance‑option structures .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Public company boards: None disclosed for Ms. Krishnamohan beyond Arcutis .
- Compensation Committee interlocks: Proxy reports no interlocks; Ms. Krishnamohan is not on the Compensation Committee .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance/accounting expertise; designated Audit Committee financial expert (SEC definition); financial sophistication (Nasdaq) .
- Executive management experience; capital markets/M&A background from Goldman Sachs; biopharma CFO roles .
- Board skills matrix: Finance & Accounting Expertise and Executive Management indicated; dermatology prior experience not indicated for her .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Amount | As of/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common shares held | 5,607 | Beneficial ownership table (record date Apr 15, 2025) |
| Options outstanding | 68,754 | As of Dec 31, 2024 (director outstanding awards) |
| Options exercisable within 60 days | 37,191 | As of Apr 15, 2025 |
| RSUs outstanding (unvested) | 10,139 | As of Dec 31, 2024 |
| Deferred RSUs vested | 4,375 | 2023 RSUs elected to defer; convert at specified future events |
| Ownership as % of outstanding | <1% | 42,798 beneficially owned vs. 119,199,222 shares; shown as “*” (<1%) |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited by policy (unless approved); applies to directors | |
| Stock ownership guidelines | Company applies guidelines to non‑employee directors; specific multiples not disclosed |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with deep financing/M&A and biopharma CFO experience; Audit Committee “financial expert” strengthens oversight of reporting, auditor independence, related‑party review, and cybersecurity; perfect 2024 attendance signals active engagement .
- Alignment: Director pay mix emphasizes equity ($250k annual equity; RSU deferral elected in 2023 adds long‑term alignment); change‑in‑control vesting is standard for directors; hedging/pledging restricted by policy; stock ownership guidelines in place for directors .
- Conflicts/related parties: No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Ms. Krishnamohan; Audit Committee reviews any such transactions .
- Signals/risks: 2024 say‑on‑pay support was ~68% amid a broad employee option exchange (non‑employee directors did not participate), with investor outreach and disclosure positioning it as a one‑time retention action; suggests Board responsiveness to shareholder feedback while preserving governance separation for directors . Compliance note: No delinquent Section 16 filings disclosed for Ms. Krishnamohan (one late Form 4 noted for CFO Topper) .