David Meek
About David Meek
David Meek (age 61) is an independent Class I director of Cullinan Therapeutics (CGEM), serving since May 2024; he brings three decades of global biopharma operating experience, including CEO roles and oncology commercialization leadership . He holds a B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and currently chairs the board of Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) and serves on the board of uniQure N.V., with prior public company directorships at Fusion Pharmaceuticals (through its 2024 sale to AstraZeneca) and Entasis Therapeutics . Cullinan’s board has determined all current members except the CEO are independent under Nasdaq/SEC rules, which includes Meek, and its governance guidelines require at least annual executive sessions of independent directors .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Sep 2021–Aug 2023 | Led commercial-stage oncology biotech; executive leadership experience |
| FerGene, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Jan 2020–Mar 2021 | Private biotech CEO; transitional leadership |
| Ipsen S.A. | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Jul 2016–Jan 2020 | Global biopharma CEO; industry associations (PhRMA, EFPIA) |
| Baxalta Incorporated | EVP & President, Oncology | 2014–2016 | Oncology franchise leadership pre-Shire acquisition |
| Endocyte, Inc. | Chief Commercial Officer | 2012–2014 | Commercial strategy in oncology |
| Novartis (Pharmaceuticals & Oncology) | Leadership roles | 2005–2012 | Senior commercial roles at Novartis |
| Johnson & Johnson/Janssen | Leadership roles | 1989–2004 | Early career commercial roles |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) | Chair, Board of Directors | Current | Governance leadership at global rare disease biopharma |
| uniQure N.V. | Director | Current | Gene therapy public company board experience |
| Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Director | Oct 2023–Jun 2024 | Public oncology company; acquired by AstraZeneca in 2024 |
| Entasis Therapeutics Inc. | Director | Jun 2019–Jul 2022 | Public anti-infectives company; acquired by Innoviva |
| PhRMA; EFPIA | Board Member | 2016–2020 | Industry policy associations; advocacy experience |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Meek serves on the Audit Committee; the committee is chaired by Stephen Webster and met 4 times in FY2024 .
- Other committees/chair roles: Compensation (chair: Anthony Rosenberg; met 5 times) and Nominating & Corporate Governance (chair: Anne‑Marie Martin; met 6 times) – Meek is not a member .
- Independence: Board has determined all current directors except the CEO are independent under Nasdaq/SEC rules; independent directors meet at least annually in executive session .
- Attendance/engagement: The full board met 5 times in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of board and applicable committee meetings, and all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Board leadership: CEO and Chair roles are separated (non-executive chair is Anthony Rosenberg), with risk oversight conducted via committees and reported to the full board .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Period/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (Meek) | $29,688 | Pro‑rated for service starting May 15, 2024 |
| Board Cash Retainer (policy, 2024) | $40,000 | Members; chair +$33,000 |
| Committee Cash Retainers (policy, 2024) | Audit: $7,500 (member), $15,000 (chair); Compensation: $5,000 (member), $10,000 (chair); Nominating: $5,000 (member), $10,000 (chair) | Baseline schedule before Feb 2025 update |
| Policy Update (effective Feb 2025) | Audit member $10,000; Audit chair $20,000; Compensation member $6,000; Compensation chair $12,000; Chair premium $35,000 | Increased retainers post peer review with Compensia |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Component | Detail | Vesting/Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Option Awards (Meek, 2024) | Grant date fair value: $274,788 | Initial grant upon appointment; vests in equal installments on the first, second, and third anniversaries, subject to continued service |
| Outstanding Options (Meek) | 15,618 shares subject to outstanding options as of Dec 31, 2024 | Per director compensation footnote |
| Exercisable within 60 days (beneficial ownership basis) | 5,206 shares (options) | Vested/exercisable within 60 days of Apr 1, 2025 |
| Change‑of‑control | Initial and annual director option grants vest in full upon sale of the Company | Non‑employee director compensation policy |
| Policy Update (Feb 2025) | Initial option grant fair value increased to $359,000; annual option grant to $215,000 | Effective Feb 2025; rationale: align with market per Compensia review |
No director RSUs/PSUs or performance metric targets are disclosed for non‑employee directors; director equity is options‑based with time‑based vesting .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to CGEM | Potential Interlock/Conflict Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sobi (Chair); uniQure N.V. (Director) | External public boards | No CGEM‑disclosed related party transactions involving Meek; audit committee reviews any related person transactions |
| Fusion (prior); Entasis (prior) | Former public boards | Historical roles; no CGEM‑disclosed transactions with these entities |
Expertise & Qualifications
- CEO and C‑suite experience at Mirati, FerGene, Ipsen; oncology commercialization at Baxalta and Endocyte; senior roles at Novartis; early career at J&J/Janssen – strong operating and oncology domain expertise .
- Current governance leadership (chair at Sobi; director at uniQure) indicates active engagement across rare disease and gene therapy ecosystems .
- Education: B.A., University of Cincinnati .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Beneficial Ownership (Apr 1, 2025) | 5,206 shares (options vested/exercisable within 60 days); less than 1% |
| Outstanding Options (Dec 31, 2024) | 15,618 shares subject to options |
| Hedging/Pledging | Insider trading policy prohibits derivative transactions; policy addresses pledging/margin risks |
| Section 16(a) Compliance | All filings timely in 2024 per company review |
Governance Assessment
- Independence and committee role: Meek is independent and serves on the Audit Committee; the audit committee met 4 times in 2024 and oversees auditor selection, internal controls, earnings releases, and related person transactions – a core governance function supporting investor confidence .
- Attendance and engagement: Board met 5 times; each director attended ≥75% of board/committee meetings, and all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting; committee activity levels suggest active oversight (Comp: 5; Nominating: 6) .
- Ownership alignment: As a new director, Meek’s beneficial ownership is modest (5,206 options exercisable within 60 days) with 15,618 options outstanding; alignment is expected to build over time via annual option grants and vesting .
- Compensation structure signals: Director equity is options‑based with time‑based vesting and full acceleration upon a sale; cash and equity retainers were increased in Feb 2025 following Compensia peer review, with board rationale to better align with market and attract/retain talent .
- Conflicts/related party exposure: No CGEM‑disclosed related party transactions involving Meek; audit committee pre‑approves related person transactions and monitors conflicts; policy prohibits derivative transactions and addresses pledging/margin risk .
- Board structure and risk oversight: Separation of Chair and CEO, independent director executive sessions at least annually, and committee‑based risk oversight are positive governance practices .
RED FLAGS to monitor
- Rising director compensation levels (cash and option fair values) may draw scrutiny if not matched by sustained performance outcomes; CGEM cites market alignment via Compensia review as rationale .
- Multiple external board commitments (Sobi, uniQure) warrant ongoing monitoring for time demands and any future interlocks; no related party transactions disclosed to date .