Gregory Bailey
BiohavenAbout Gregory H. Bailey, M.D.
Independent director of Biohaven Ltd. (BHVN), age 69, serving since September 2022 (previously director of the Former Parent since January 2014). Background spans emergency medicine and biotech venture formation; medical degree from the University of Western Ontario. Current core credentials include CEO and co‑founder of Juvenescence Limited and long history of founding/investing in biopharma companies .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medivation, Inc. | Independent Director | 2005–Dec 2012 | Early financier; helped guide a successful oncology development story |
| Palantir Group, Inc. | Managing Partner | Since Apr 2002 | Biotech merchant bank; led multiple startups/financings |
| SalvaRx Group Plc | Founder; Director | Since May 2015 | Oncology investments; company formation |
| VirnetX Inc. (NYSE: VHC) | Co‑founder | Not stated | Technology company formation |
| DuraMedic Inc. | Co‑founder | Not stated | Medtech startup formation |
| Portage Biotech, Inc. (OTCBB: PTGEF) | Chairman & Director | Since Jun 2013 | Governance oversight of public biotech |
| Portage Pharmaceuticals Limited | Director | Since Jun 2013 | Portfolio governance |
| MediqVentures | Co‑founder; Managing Partner | Since Jan 2014 | Life science investing/strategy |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Public/Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenescence Limited | Chief Executive Officer; Co‑founder | Since 2016 | Private life sciences longevity company |
| Manx Financial Group (LSE: MFX) | Director | Since Mar 2018 | Public; financial services |
| Serina Therapeutics (f/k/a AgeX Therapeutics, Inc.) (NYSE: SER) | Director | Since 2018 | Public; therapeutics |
| Portage Biotech, Inc. (OTCBB: PTGEF) | Chairman & Director | Since Jun 2013 | Public; biotech |
| Portage Pharmaceuticals Limited | Director | Since Jun 2013 | Private; biotech subsidiary |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Dr. Bailey is independent under NYSE rules; 6 of 8 directors are independent .
- Committee assignments (2024): Audit Committee member; Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee Chair; committees met 4 times in 2024 .
- Attendance: Board met 4 times; each director attended ≥75% of aggregate Board/committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 AGM (Apr 30, 2024) .
- Executive sessions: Non‑management directors met at the end of each in‑person Board meeting; independent directors met separately; presided by Lead Independent Director .
| Governance Element | Status/Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent director |
| Audit Committee | Member; 4 meetings in 2024 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance | Chair; 4 meetings in 2024; oversees board composition, evaluations, governance principles, sustainability oversight |
| Attendance | ≥75% of Board/committee meetings; present at 2024 AGM |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | $60,000 | FY2024 | Director cash compensation actually paid |
Director compensation policy (structure):
- Annual Board retainer: $50,000; Committee retainers: Audit $10,000; Compensation $10,000; Nominating & Corporate Governance $7,000; Committee chair retainers: Audit $25,000; Compensation $20,000; Nominating & Corporate Governance $10,000 .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award | Grant Date | Shares/Options | Exercise Price | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Director Option | Apr 30, 2024 | 16,592 options | $38.80 | Included in $485,933 total option value | Fully vests on earlier of Apr 30, 2025 or 2025 AGM, subject to service |
| Total Option Awards (FY2024) | — | — | — | $485,933 | Aggregate grant‑date fair value for FY2024 |
Vesting schedules are time‑based; no performance metrics disclosed for director equity awards .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to BHVN | Potential Interlock Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Portage Biotech, Inc.; Portage Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | External biotech roles | No BHVN related‑party transactions disclosed involving Dr. Bailey in 2024–2025; monitoring advisable given sector overlap |
| Juvenescence Limited | External CEO role | Sector adjacency (biotech); no BHVN transactions disclosed with Juvenescence |
| Manx Financial Group; Serina Therapeutics | External public boards | No BHVN related‑party transactions disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Medical doctor; practiced emergency medicine for ten years before finance; medical degree from University of Western Ontario .
- Extensive venture capital and company formation experience across biopharma and tech; co‑founder/operator across multiple startups .
- Public company governance experience as chairman/director of Portage Biotech; director at Manx Financial Group and Serina Therapeutics .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory H. Bailey, M.D. | 1,783,319 | 1.7% | 1,620,071 common shares held directly; 163,248 options vested/exercisable within 60 days of Mar 10, 2025 |
- Stock ownership guidelines: Non‑employee directors must hold ≥$1,000,000 in equity value; all directors (including Dr. Bailey) were in compliance as of Jan 1, 2025 .
- Pledging/hedging policy: Hedging and short sales prohibited; margin account transactions and pledges permitted subject to policy—permitted pledging can be a governance risk indicator; no pledging by Dr. Bailey disclosed .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; chairs Nominating & Corporate Governance (key role in board composition and evaluations); adequate attendance; material personal equity stake and compliance with stringent director ownership guidelines (≥$1,000,000), enhancing alignment .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay primarily equity options time‑vested; standard annual cash retainer; no performance‑metric‑linked director equity—consistent with market practice; FY2024 total comp $545,933 with majority equity, supporting long‑term alignment .
- Conflicts/related party exposure: No BHVN related‑party transactions involving Dr. Bailey disclosed; board’s related‑party policy requires audit committee review/approval; notable 2024 Pyramid acquisition involved CEO and another director (abstained), but not Dr. Bailey .
- Risk indicators:
- Pledging allowed under Trading Policy (though hedging prohibited); consider investor preference for strict no‑pledge policies—monitor for any pledges by directors; none disclosed for Dr. Bailey .
- Multiple external roles across biopharma/finance increase network reach but warrant continuing monitoring for potential interlocks as BHVN advances collaborations/M&A .
- Overall: Governance positioning is solid with independent leadership of a core committee and meaningful equity ownership. Key watch item is the company‑level allowance for pledging; ensure ongoing disclosure and adherence to ownership guidelines and independence standards .