Peter Knight
About Peter Knight
Peter Knight (age 74) has served on BIAF’s Board since May 2018. He is a retired Founding Partner of Generation Investment Management and previously held senior roles at Met West Financial; earlier, he served as Chief of Staff to Representative/Senator Al Gore (1977–1989). Knight holds a BA from Cornell University and a JD from Georgetown Law and is recognized for extensive finance and governance experience, including prior public-company board service.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Investment Management | Founding Partner (retired); current board member | Retired in 2018; ongoing board service | Built global sustainable investing platform; governance oversight |
| Met West Financial | Managing Director | Not disclosed | Asset management leadership |
| Office of Rep./Sen. Al Gore | Chief of Staff | 1977–1989 | Federal policy leadership |
| Law Practice | General Counsel of Medicis; private practice | Not disclosed | Corporate legal counsel |
| Cyan Capital Partners | Partner | Not disclosed (prior disclosure) | Support for emerging managers; sustainable investing focus |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Investment Management | Board member | Current | Governance role at global sustainable investing firm |
| Gratitude Railroad | Board member | Current | Impact investing network governance |
| Medicis Pharmaceutical | Director | Prior | Public company board |
| Par Pharmaceutical | Director | Prior | Public company board |
| EntreMed (Casi Pharmaceuticals Inc.) | Director | Prior | Public company board |
| Healthworld Corporation | Director | Prior | Public company board; historical tie to BIAF’s Executive Chairman (former CEO/founder) |
| Whitman Education | Director | Prior | Public company board |
| Comsat | Director | Prior | Public company board |
| Schroder Mutual Fund Board complex | Director | Prior | Mutual fund governance |
| Climate Museum | Chair | Prior/current not specified | Philanthropy governance |
| Emergent | Board member | Prior/current not specified | Forestry/deforestation initiative governance |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board affirmed Knight’s independence under Nasdaq rules; he is also eligible for committee service under applicable independence standards.
- Committee roles (2025): Audit Committee Chair (effective post-2025 Annual Meeting), Compensation Committee Chair, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee member; designated “Audit Committee financial expert.”
- Attendance: In 2024, each director attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; 2023 had similar compliance.
- Elections: Re-elected at the July 25, 2025 Annual Meeting; BIAF reported final vote tallies for all directors.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Director Cash Retainer | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Audit Committee Chair Fee | N/A (not Chair in 2023) | $5,000 (program level; not applicable to Knight until post-2025) |
| Compensation Committee Chair Fee | $2,500 (program level) | $2,500 (program level; Knight as Chair) |
| Nominating Committee Chair Fee | N/A | N/A (Knight is member) |
| Meeting Fees | None disclosed | None disclosed |
| Fees Earned by Knight (Cash) | $27,500 | $27,500 |
Program terms: 2023 paid quarterly cash and equity; in March 2024 the Board moved to annual restricted stock grants; chair fees set as noted above.
Performance Compensation
- Structure: Director equity grants are restricted stock (time-based vesting), not performance-based (no TSR/EBITDA/ESG metrics disclosed). 2024 grants vest pro rata monthly over 12 months; 2023 quarterly grants vested after three months.
| Equity Grants | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Knight Stock Awards (Grant Date Fair Value) | $74,996; quarterly grants vest after 3 months | $112,498; annual grant program vests monthly over 12 months |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Historical interlock: Knight served on Healthworld Corporation’s board; BIAF’s Executive Chairman (Steven Girgenti) founded and led Healthworld, creating a historical network tie. No current related-party transactions were disclosed involving Knight.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance, asset management, and governance expertise; “Audit Committee financial expert” designation; extensive public company board experience. Legal and policy background (JD; Chief of Staff experience).
Equity Ownership
| Date (Record) | Total Beneficial Ownership (shares) | % of Class | Direct Common | Unvested Restricted | Options (Exercisable) | Warrants (Exercisable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2025 | 186,022 | <1% | 117,455 | 5,634 | 28,568 | 39,999 |
| Nov 4, 2025 (post reverse split) | 4,866 | <1% | 3,914 | Not disclosed | 952 | 1,333 |
Notes: Reverse stock split approved July 25, 2025, affecting share counts thereafter.
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director; chairs both Compensation and Audit Committees; designated audit financial expert; robust governance background; equity-based alignment via restricted stock.
- Considerations: Historical late Section 16 filings (two late Form 4s in 2023) indicate prior reporting slippage; subsequent filings not flagged in 2025.
- Conflicts/Related-Party: None involving Knight disclosed; historical network tie to Healthworld via Executive Chairman is noteworthy but not a current transaction.
- Hedging/Pledging: Company policy prohibits short sales and hedging in Company securities; no pledging by Knight disclosed.
Director Compensation Program Details (Reference)
- 2024 update: Annual restricted stock grant (~$75,000 grant date value) vesting monthly over 12 months, effective July 1; cash retainer and chair fees unchanged.
- 2023 program: Quarterly restricted stock grants (~$18,750 per quarter) vested after three months; cash retainer and chair fees applied.
Independence, Attendance, and Engagement
- Independence: Affirmed by Board under Nasdaq rules.
- Attendance: At least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings in 2024; 2023 similarly compliant.
- Shareholder Votes: Re-elected at 2025 Annual Meeting with majority support per company 8-K reporting.
Risk Indicators & Red Flags
- Section 16(a) late filings (2023): Knight had two late filings (each reporting two transactions). This was disclosed in 2024 proxy; 2025 proxy did not list new late filings for Knight.
- No say-on-pay votes: As an Emerging Growth Company, BIAF does not conduct say-on-pay votes, limiting direct shareholder feedback on compensation.
Compensation Committee Analysis
- Composition: Knight (Chair), with Jamie Platt (post-2025 Annual Meeting).
- Consultants: No independent compensation consultant disclosures identified.
Employment & Contracts
- Not applicable to non-employee director; no director employment agreement disclosed for Knight.
Performance & Track Record
- Board effectiveness indicators include committee leadership and audit expertise; no director-specific stock performance or awards disclosed beyond equity grants.
Say-on-Pay & Shareholder Feedback
- EGC status exempts BIAF from say-on-pay advisory votes; no director-specific feedback mechanisms disclosed.