Antony Mattessich
About Antony Mattessich
Independent director since 2021; Class III term through the 2027 annual meeting; age 58 as of March 31, 2025 . Currently CEO and a board member of Amphista Therapeutics Limited (since September 2024); previously CEO and director at Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCUL) from August 2017 to September 2024 . Prior roles include Managing Director at Mundipharma International (May 2011–August 2017), senior leadership at Novartis, and various international management positions at Bristol‑Myers Squibb; education includes a Master’s in International Affairs (Columbia University) and B.A. (UC Berkeley) . Aura’s Board deems him independent under Nasdaq and SEC rules .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphista Therapeutics Limited | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Sep 2024–present | — |
| Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCUL) | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Aug 2017–Sep 2024 | Launched lead asset; advanced wet AMD program from pre‑clinical into active Phase 3 enrollment |
| Mundipharma International | Managing Director (and roles of increasing responsibility) | May 2011–Aug 2017 | — |
| Novartis AG | Ran U.S. respiratory, dermatology & pediatrics group | Not disclosed | — |
| Bristol‑Myers Squibb | Managing Director (Malaysia/Singapore, Netherlands); Head of Operations, International Medicines Group | Not disclosed | — |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphista Therapeutics Limited | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Sep 2024–present | Private biotech; current external commitment |
| Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Aug 2017–Sep 2024 | Prior public company board/executive role |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee chair .
- Independence: Independent director under Nasdaq and SEC rules (all directors except the CEO were deemed independent in Q1 2025) .
- Attendance: Board met 7 times in 2024; all directors met ≥75% attendance across board/committee meetings except Mr. Parekh; Mattessich met the ≥75% threshold. All directors attended the June 20, 2024 annual meeting except Mr. Johnson .
- Committee engagement intensity: Audit Committee met 7 times in 2024; Nominating & Corporate Governance met 3 times .
- Term and classification: Class III; term expires at the 2027 annual meeting .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Board member annual retainer | $40,000 |
| Audit Committee member retainer | $7,500 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee chair retainer | $8,000 |
| Total cash fees (calculated) | $55,500 (matches reported) |
| 2024 Director Compensation | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Option Awards ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antony Mattessich | $55,500 | $72,765 | $74,616 | $202,881 |
Policy notes:
- No meeting fees disclosed; compensation structured via retainers and annual equity .
- Committee chairs receive higher retainers; non‑executive chair has additional $30,000 retainer (not applicable to Mattessich) .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Structure | Shares | Vesting | Grant Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU award | 10,500 | Vests in full on the earlier of 1 year from grant or next annual meeting; service‑based | Granted on date of annual meeting (June 20, 2024 for 2024 awards) | Time‑based; no performance metrics tied |
| Annual option award | 14,500 | Same schedule as RSUs; service‑based | Granted on date of annual meeting | Time‑based; strike price not disclosed in proxy |
| Initial RSU award (new directors) | 21,000 | Vests in three equal annual installments; service‑based | Upon initial election | Not applicable to incumbents receiving annual awards |
| Initial option award (new directors) | 29,000 | Vests in three equal annual installments; service‑based | Upon initial election | — |
| Change‑of‑control | — | Full accelerated vesting upon sale of the Company | — | Applies to director equity awards |
| 2024 Equity Granted (Grant‑Date Fair Value) | RSUs ($) | Options ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Antony Mattessich | $72,765 | $74,616 |
Performance metrics table:
| Incentive Type | Metric(s) | Disclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Director RSUs/Options | None (time‑based vesting only) | No financial/ESG performance conditions disclosed |
Governance controls:
- Compensation Committee oversees director compensation and equity grants; seven meetings in 2024 .
- Executive clawback policy adopted (financial restatement recovery), applicable to executive officers; not specific to non‑employee directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphista Therapeutics Limited | Private | CEO & Director | Sep 2024–present |
| Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCUL) | Public | CEO & Director | Aug 2017–Sep 2024 |
- Related‑party transactions: Proxy states no related‑party transactions >$120,000 since Jan 1, 2023 other than those disclosed; none tied to Mattessich specifically .
- 5% holder interlocks exist for another director (Matrix Capital/affiliation with Karan Takhar), but not Mattessich .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Biotech and pharma leadership across global commercial and operational roles; CEO track record in ophthalmology and oncology; audit committee participation signals financial literacy .
- Education: Master’s in International Affairs (Columbia University); B.A. (University of California, Berkeley) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Composition Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antony Mattessich | 97,181 | <1% | Consists of options exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2025 |
| Outstanding Director Holdings (as of 12/31/2024) | Unvested RSUs (#) | Shares Subject to Options (#) |
|---|---|---|
| Antony Mattessich | 10,500 | 116,149 |
Policy safeguards:
- Insider trading policy prohibits derivative transactions; addresses risks of margin/pledging although explicit pledging prohibition is not stated; no pledging disclosed for Mattessich .
Governance Assessment
-
Strengths
- Independent director; no material related‑party exposures disclosed .
- Chairs Nominating & Corporate Governance; drives director selection, board evaluation, and governance guidelines .
- Audit Committee member; participates in oversight of financial reporting, internal controls, quarterly releases, related‑party transaction approvals, and cybersecurity risk .
- Solid attendance (≥75% threshold in 2024) and presence at the 2024 annual meeting .
- Compensation structure relies on retainers with time‑based equity; annual award cadence aligns director incentives with shareholder outcomes; transparent retainer components .
-
Potential Risks/Red Flags
- Dual role as CEO and director at Amphista Therapeutics may create time‑commitment constraints; no conflict disclosed, but investors should monitor overlap in oncology focus .
- Director equity awards receive full accelerated vesting upon sale of the Company; while standard, it can reduce long‑term performance linkage in change‑of‑control scenarios .
-
Net view: Governance signals are generally positive—independence, committee leadership, adequate attendance, and straightforward director pay. No disclosed related‑party transactions tied to Mattessich; equity ownership is modest but consistent with policy awards .