Hannah Valantine
BridgeBio PharmaAbout Hannah A. Valantine, M.D.
Independent Class I director at BridgeBio Pharma since October 2021; age 73 (as of March 31, 2025). Professor of Medicine at Stanford University since 1987; former NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity and Senior Investigator (2014–2020). Co‑inventor of donor‑derived cell‑free DNA technology for transplant rejection monitoring; education includes M.B.B.S., M.R.C.P., and M.D. from St George’s Hospital/London University. Current public company boards: Pacific Biosciences (since June 2021) and CareDx (since July 2021).
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University School of Medicine | Professor of Medicine | 1987–present | Long-standing academic leadership; co‑inventor of donor‑derived cfDNA technology for transplant monitoring |
| Stanford University | Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine; Senior Associate Dean for Diversity & Leadership | Nov 2004–Apr 2014 | Led diversity and leadership initiatives in academic medicine |
| National Institutes of Health (NHLBI) | Senior Investigator | Apr 2014–Sep 2020 | Research leadership within NHLBI |
| National Institutes of Health | Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity | Apr 2014–Sep 2020 | National-level DEI strategy and execution across NIH |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (PACB) | Director | Since Jun 2021 | Public company directorship |
| CareDx, Inc. (CDNA) | Director | Since Jul 2021 | Public company directorship; CareDx markets transplant diagnostics related to cfDNA monitoring |
| HAV LLC | Principal & Founder | Since Jan 2021 | DEI consulting firm |
Board Governance
- Classification and tenure: Class I director; currently serving until the 2026 annual meeting.
- Independence: Board determined independent under Nasdaq and SEC rules (non-independent directors are Kumar, Homcy, McCormick; Valantine not among exceptions).
- Committees: Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee member (chair: Ali Satvat). No Audit or Compensation Committee assignments.
- Attendance: Board held 9 meetings in 2024; all directors attended at least 75% of aggregate Board and committee meetings during their service. Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee held 2 meetings.
- Board leadership context: Lead Director (Charles Homcy) and Lead Independent Director (Fred Hassan) roles separate from CEO; structure intended to strengthen oversight.
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Structure | 2024 Amount (Valantine) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $50,000 for Board membership; no meeting or committee fees | $50,000 |
| Initial equity grant (upon election) | Non‑statutory stock option, $1,200,000 grant-date value; 10‑year term; vests in 3 equal annual installments | Not applicable in 2024 (initial grant at earlier election) |
| Annual equity grant | Non‑statutory stock option, $550,000 grant-date value; 10‑year term; vests in 3 equal annual installments | $549,998 (grant‑date fair value) |
| Total 2024 director compensation | Cash + option award values | $599,998 |
Policy notes:
- No additional compensation for attending Board or committee meetings; no committee chair/member fees.
- Aggregate annual cap: $1,250,000 for an Outside Director in any calendar year; $600,000 in subsequent years after initial election.
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Compensation Vehicle | Metric Type | Vesting/Terms | Change‑of‑Control Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual non‑statutory stock options | Time‑based (no disclosed performance metrics for directors) | 3 equal annual installments; 10‑year term; strike price = closing price on grant date | Full accelerated vesting upon a “sale event” per 2021 Plan |
No director‑specific performance metrics (e.g., TSR/EBITDA targets) are disclosed for director equity awards; vesting is strictly time‑based.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Sector | Role/Committee | Overlap/Interlock Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Biosciences (PACB) | Genomics/sequencing | Director | No BridgeBio related‑party transactions disclosed involving Valantine and PACB. |
| CareDx (CDNA) | Transplant diagnostics | Director | Valantine co‑invented donor‑derived cfDNA tech used clinically; no BridgeBio related‑party transactions disclosed involving Valantine, CareDx, or HAV LLC. Monitor informational interlock potential. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Academic medicine and cardiovascular science (Stanford Professor; prior Senior Associate Dean roles).
- NIH leadership in scientific workforce diversity and DEI practices.
- Technology co‑inventor credentials in donor‑derived cfDNA (clinical diagnostics).
- Education: M.B.B.S., M.R.C.P., M.D. (St George’s Hospital/London University).
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned | 118,744; includes 1,764 directly owned and 3,433 held by spouse, plus options exercisable within 60 days. Ownership <1%. |
| Options exercisable within 60 days (as of Apr 1, 2025) | 113,547 shares. |
| Total options outstanding (Dec 31, 2024) | 221,744 shares underlying options (aggregate outstanding). |
| Anti‑hedging/pledging | Company policy prohibits hedging and pledging by insiders. |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director; active on Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee; solid attendance; meaningful scientific and DEI expertise enhances board effectiveness. Director compensation structure emphasizes at‑risk options aligned with shareholder outcomes; no meeting/committee fees reduce pay complexity.
- Alignment: Beneficial ownership includes vested options; anti‑hedging/pledging and clawback policies support alignment and risk oversight.
- Conflicts/related‑party exposure: No transactions >$120,000 disclosed involving Valantine or HAV LLC; disclosed consulting relationships in 2024 involved other directors (McCormick, Lo/QLS), not Valantine.
- Monitoring points (not red flags): External board seats at CareDx and PACB create potential information interlocks; time‑based option acceleration upon sale event is standard but merits awareness in M&A contexts. No director‑specific performance metrics are tied to equity awards, consistent with market norms.
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Valantine (no related‑party transactions, no hedging/pledging, independent status, attendance ≥75%). Continue monitoring for any future transactions involving HAV LLC or companies where she is a director.