Bruno Lucidi
About Bruno Lucidi
Independent director of Atea Pharmaceuticals (AVIR) since 2014; age 65; currently serves on the Audit and Compensation Committees and has been affirmatively determined to be independent under Nasdaq rules. He brings deep antiviral and vaccine commercialization expertise from senior roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, and GSK, as well as CEO experience at Karolinska Development and founder/CEO experience at AgenTus Therapeutics (now Mink Therapeutics). Education includes studies at Saint Romain en Gal, Lyon School of Medicine, Paris School of Business (ESCP), Villejuif Gustave Roussy Institute (Oncology), and Investment Banking Institute (NY).
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| AgenTus Therapeutics (now Mink Therapeutics) | Founder & CEO | 2017–2019 | Led global cell therapy company; entrepreneurial and BD experience |
| Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) | CEO | 2014–2015 | Ran Nordic life sciences investment company; portfolio oversight and capital allocation |
| GSK Biologicals | VP, Pediatric Vaccines | 2009–2012 | Worldwide commercial/lifecycle strategy for vaccines >£2B sales (Hep B, Polio, Rotavirus, MMR) |
| Johnson & Johnson | Worldwide VP, Oncology & Virology | 2002–2005 | Established global therapeutic strategy; oversaw Velcade launch; chaired two TA committees |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb | Senior Director, Virology Europe; Director, Oncology Europe | 1994–1998 | Oversaw EU launches of Videx (didanosine), Zerit (stavudine), and Taxol (paclitaxel) |
| Wallonia Trade & Foreign Investment Agency (Belgium) | Life Sciences Expert | 2017–2020 | Government advisory role on life sciences |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other public company directorships (past five years) | — | — | None disclosed |
Board Governance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Board determined Bruno Lucidi is independent under Nasdaq rules |
| Board tenure/class | Director since 2014; Class II nominee for term ending 2028 if re-elected |
| Committees | Audit; Compensation (not Chair) |
| Committee activity (2024) | Audit Committee met 5x; Compensation Committee met 4x |
| Attendance | Board met 5x; each director attended ≥75% of Board and committee meetings in 2024 |
| Lead Independent Director/Exec sessions | Board has Lead Independent Director; independents meet in executive session regularly (board-wide practice) |
| Anti-hedging/pledging | Company prohibits hedging and pledging by directors/officers |
| Related-party oversight | Audit Committee reviews/approves related-person transactions; no Bruno-specific RPTs disclosed |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Structure / Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board retainer | $45,000 (effective June 20, 2024); previously $40,000 | Program reset to fixed share counts for equity; fees approved May 2024 |
| Committee member fees | Audit: $10,000; Compensation: $7,500 | Applies to non-chair members |
| 2024 cash paid (Lucidi) | $60,208 | Fees earned or paid in cash during 2024 |
Performance Compensation
| Grant date | Instrument | Shares/Units | Grant date fair value ($) | Exercise price | Vesting | Term/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/21/2024 | RSU | 29,600 | 101,824 | — | Vests in single installment on earlier of first anniversary or next annual meeting, subject to service | 2024 RSU program |
| 6/21/2024 | Stock options | 41,200 | 92,490 | 3.44 | 12 equal monthly installments over 1 year, subject to service | Options expire ≤10 years |
Equity program design for directors uses time-based vesting; no performance metrics tied to director equity awards are disclosed.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee roles | Potential interlocks/conflicts |
|---|---|---|---|
| None (public, past five years) | — | — | None disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Global antiviral/vaccine commercialization leadership (BMS, J&J, GSK); direct launch experience (Videx, Zerit, Taxol; oversight of Velcade) supporting go-to-market and lifecycle strategy in antivirals .
- Company-building and capital markets exposure as CEO of Karolinska Development and founder/CEO of AgenTus Therapeutics, informing BD and strategic alternatives oversight .
- Academic/technical foundation in oncology and medicine; supplemental finance training (Investment Banking Institute) aligns with audit/compensation committee service .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 500,989 shares (<1% of outstanding) |
| Breakdown | 83,150 directly owned; 29,600 RSUs vesting within 60 days; 388,239 options exercisable within 60 days |
| Outstanding equity at 12/31/2024 (director table) | 29,600 RSUs; 388,239 options (aggregate outstanding) |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for directors by policy (no pledging disclosed) |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Lucidi brings scarce commercial antiviral experience and BD credentials directly relevant to Atea’s late-stage HCV program; independence affirmed; serves on two key committees (Audit, Compensation), enhancing oversight breadth .
- Alignment and incentives: 2024 director pay mix skewed toward equity (RSUs and options) with time-based vesting; his cash fees were $60,208 vs. equity grant fair values of $101,824 (RSUs) and $92,490 (options), supporting skin-in-the-game while maintaining independence .
- Attendance/engagement: Board and committees met frequently in 2024; each director met the ≥75% attendance threshold; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting, indicating engagement .
- Conflicts/related-party risk: No related-party transactions disclosed for Lucidi; Audit Committee oversees RPTs per policy; anti-hedging/pledging reduces misalignment risk .
- Compensation governance: Member of Compensation Committee that uses an independent consultant (Aon) deemed independent with no conflicts; signals strong process integrity .
RED FLAGS
- None observed: no RPTs, pledging prohibited, independence confirmed, and satisfactory attendance. Note: While Lucidi is not designated an “audit committee financial expert,” the committee includes two such experts (Chair Barbara Duncan and member Arthur Kirsch), which mitigates technical risk on the Audit Committee .