Christopher Baer
About Christopher A. Baer
Independent director of BioSig Technologies (BSGM) since May 2, 2024; age 56; pharmacy degree from the University of Pittsburgh; over 25 years of commercial leadership in cardiac rhythm management and electrophysiology across St. Jude Medical/Abbott, Impulse Dynamics, and CDL Nuclear Technologies . He joined the board during 2024 and is positioned as a commercially focused operator with electrophysiology market expertise, serving on all three standing committees (Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Corporate Governance) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Nuclear Technologies | Chief Commercial Officer | Apr 2022–present | Leads commercial strategy; nuclear tech market exposure |
| Impulse Dynamics | VP, Commercial Operations | Jun 2019–Apr 2022 | Commercial expansion in cardiac devices |
| St. Jude Medical/Abbott | VP & General Manager; multiple commercial leadership roles | Not specified (prior to 2019) | Electrophysiology and CRM commercial leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public Company Board? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Nuclear Technologies | Chief Commercial Officer | No (not disclosed as public director) | Executive role; no related-party transactions disclosed with BSGM |
Board Governance
- Independence: The board determined Baer is independent under Nasdaq rules .
- Committee assignments: Audit (member), Compensation (member), Nominating & Corporate Governance (member); Audit chaired by Abelman; Compensation and Nominating chaired by Browne .
- Financial literacy: Audit Committee members (including Baer) are financially literate; Abelman designated “financial expert” .
- Board structure and oversight: In 2024, CEO/Chair roles were combined with a lead independent director; executive sessions held regularly; all committees comprised of independent directors . In 2025 post-transaction, roles were separated (Henry McPhie CEO; Morgan Lekstrom Chairman) .
- Diversity: Company disclosed it does not meet Nasdaq’s diversity objective; 0 diverse directors as of Nov 8, 2024 .
- Meeting cadence (context): 2023 meetings—Board (4), Audit (4), Compensation (4), Nominating (2); no incumbent director <100% attendance (pre-Baer) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Director retainer (as of Apr 2024) | $10,000 per quarter | Paid in cash or equity; committee chair details not reiterated in 2024 update |
| Prior policy (Jan 2021) | $15,000 per quarter (director); $20,000 per quarter (committee chair); $7,500 telephonic (waived during pandemic) | Historical framework before Apr 2024 change |
Performance Compensation
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equity eligibility | Directors may be compensated in equity per company policy; Compensation Committee administers equity plans |
| Long-Term Incentive Plan | 2023 Plan in place; as of Nov 5, 2024, 15,718 shares remained available; options/restricted awards outstanding under plan totaled 206,198 shares |
| Performance metrics for director pay | Not disclosed; director compensation presented as retainer and (historically) equity grants; no director-specific performance hurdles disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | Company’s Item 404(a) review disclosed no related-party transactions for Baer |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Domain expertise: Electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm management; commercial strategy in medtech .
- Financial literacy: Audit Committee membership; board determination of financial literacy .
- Education: Pharmacy degree, University of Pittsburgh .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Common | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher A. Baer | 80,000 | <1% | Comprised of common shares; no options/warrants disclosed in ownership table |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths:
- Independent director serving on all key committees; Audit participation with financial literacy supports oversight quality .
- Clear prohibition on pledging and hedging of company stock for all directors and officers, aligning with investor-friendly practices .
- Separation of CEO and Chairman roles post-2025 improves governance structure versus 2024 combined role .
- Concerns and RED FLAGS:
- Board diversity non-compliance; no diverse directors disclosed—heightened Nasdaq rule risk and potential investor scrutiny .
- Capital structure stress signals (reverse split authorization to maintain listing) may elevate governance/market risk; requires vigilant board oversight .
- 2025 proposals to classify the board into staggered terms (classified board) can entrench directors and reduce shareholder rights—a governance caution if adopted .
- Alignment:
- Baer’s 80,000-share stake provides some skin-in-the-game; retainer reduced to $10k/quarter in 2024 suggests cost discipline, but director equity grant specifics for Baer not disclosed (monitor upcoming proxies) .
- Conflicts:
- Company disclosed no related-party transactions for Baer at appointment; continues to serve in external executive capacity at CDL Nuclear—no conflict noted by the company .
Notes on attendance/engagement: The company reports full attendance by incumbent directors for 2023 meetings and expects directors to attend meetings and the annual meeting; Baer’s tenure began in 2024, so his personal attendance rate is not disclosed in 2024 proxy materials .