Alan Levin
BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALSAbout Alan G. Levin
Alan G. Levin (age 63) has served as an independent director of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since 2020 and is Chair of the Audit Committee, designated by the Board as an “audit committee financial expert.” He is a CPA with deep finance leadership experience, including CFO roles, and holds a B.A. from Princeton and an M.S. in Accounting from NYU Stern .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endo Health Solutions Inc. | Chief Financial Officer | Jun 2009–Sep 2013 | Led finance for global specialty healthcare company |
| Texas Pacific Group | Executive/Advisor (worked with TPG and a start-up) | Not disclosed | Private equity experience |
| Pfizer, Inc. | Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer; SVP Finance & Strategic Management (R&D) | 20 years (dates not disclosed) | Led finance/strategy for R&D; broad capital markets/financial reporting experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Path Institute (non-profit) | Director | Current | FDA–industry collaboration to streamline development/regulatory requirements |
| Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Director | 2015–Aug 2023 | Company acquired by CervoMed in Aug 2023 |
| Aceto Corporation | Director | 2013–2019 | Former public seller/distributor of generics/ingredients |
| Auven Therapeutics | Advisory Board Member | Not disclosed | Private equity fund advisory role (disclosed in 2024 proxy) |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Mr. Levin is independent under Nasdaq standards .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee Chair; the Committee met eight times in 2024; Board held four meetings in 2024 .
- Financial expertise: Board designated Mr. Levin as an “audit committee financial expert” .
- Executive sessions: Held at every regularly scheduled Board meeting .
- Attendance: Each director attended at least 75% of Board and relevant committee meetings in 2024 .
- Term limits and reviews: Non-management director term limits policy (waivable); annual Board and individual director performance evaluations overseen by Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee .
- Related-party oversight and transactions: Audit Committee pre-approves related-party transactions; none required disclosure since Jan 1, 2024 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Policy | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fees Earned (Cash) – Levin | $72,500 | |
| 2024 RSU Grant – grant date fair value | $42,966 | |
| 2024 Option Grant – grant date fair value | $227,500 | |
| 2024 Total Director Compensation – Levin | $342,966 |
| Cash Retainer Policy (2024) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base Annual Cash Retainer (non-employee directors) | $45,000 |
| Chair of the Board | $80,000 |
| Audit Committee – Member Retainer | $10,000 |
| Audit Committee – Chair Retainer | $20,000 |
| Compensation Committee – Member/Chair | $7,500 / $15,000 |
| Corporate Governance & Nominating – Member/Chair | $5,000 / $10,000 |
| Science / Commercialization / Finance – Member/Chair | $7,500 / $15,000 |
Notes:
- Directors may elect to receive 50% or 100% of Board base retainers in Company stock in lieu of cash; elections and issuances occur quarterly. Mr. Levin’s 2024 table reflects cash fees; no stock-in-lieu election is disclosed for him .
Performance Compensation
| Annual Equity Grants to Directors (2024) | Structure | Vesting | Value Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options to purchase 49,933 shares (Levin) | 70% of annual equity value in options (pre-Apr 21, 2025 policy) | Options vest at 12 months; 10-year term; strike at FMV | Fair value per FASB ASC 718; annual meeting date pricing |
| RSUs for 6,820 shares (Levin) | 30% of annual equity value in RSUs (pre-Apr 21, 2025 policy) | RSUs vest at 12 months | Closing price $6.30 on Jun 12, 2024 (grant date) |
Plan and governance features relevant to director equity:
- No repricing; no discounted options; clawback applies to awards; minimum one-year vesting; no tax gross-ups (plan-level) .
- Double-trigger change-of-control vesting if awards are assumed; full vesting if not assumed .
- As of Apr 21, 2025, Director Compensation Policy amended: initial/annual grants now payable 60% options / 40% RSUs (previously 70%/30%); other terms unchanged .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Interlocks | No interlocking relationships exist between current Board/Compensation Committee and other companies (2024 disclosure) |
| Potential conflicts with counterparties | None disclosed; related-party transactions require Audit Committee pre-approval and none required disclosure since Jan 1, 2024 |
Expertise & Qualifications
- CFO experience at Endo; senior finance leadership at Pfizer including Treasurer and SVP Finance & Strategic Management for R&D; extensive strategic planning, capital markets, financial reporting, tax planning, business development .
- CPA; audit committee financial expert designation; strong governance and financial literacy aligned with Audit Chair role .
- Education: Princeton (B.S.); NYU Stern (Master’s in Accounting) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Total Beneficial Ownership | Components | Percent of Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alan G. Levin | 265,798 shares | Includes 214,027 shares via options exercisable within 60 days; and 6,820 RSUs vesting within 60 days | Less than 1% (*) |
Ownership alignment and policies:
- Stock ownership guidelines: Non-employee directors must hold 3x annual cash retainer; compliance measured annually; as of Dec 31, 2024 all Covered Individuals were compliant .
- Anti-hedging: Directors and family members prohibited from hedging Company equity (short sales, derivatives that hedge); other derivative transactions only if consistent with policy and law .
- Pledging: No pledging disclosures appear in the proxy; none reported .
Governance Assessment
- Positive signals: Independent director; Audit Chair with SEC “financial expert” designation; strong attendance; robust plan features (no repricing, clawback, minimum vesting); anti-hedging policy; stock ownership guidelines and reported compliance; executive sessions each regular Board meeting; no related-party transactions disclosed .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay includes cash retainer plus annual option/RSU grants with one-year vesting; options promote performance-based alignment via stock appreciation; RSUs add retention; program caps total annual director comp and enforces minimum vesting .
- Changes to equity mix: Shift from 70% options/30% RSUs to 60%/40% beginning Apr 21, 2025 modestly increases time-based equity in director mix; still maintains option-heavy structure and plan safeguards .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed regarding attendance shortfalls, related-party transactions, hedging/pledging, tax gross-ups, or option repricings. Director compensation appears within policy caps; interlocks not present per 2024 disclosure .
- Shareholder sentiment: 2024 say-on-pay approval >95% indicates broad support for compensation governance framework (executive program), supporting overall investor confidence in compensation oversight by Board committees .