David Snyder
About David Snyder
David Snyder, 63, serves as Coya Therapeutics’ Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, roles he has held since March 2022. He has 25+ years as CFO at public and high‑growth companies, holds a B.A. (summa cum laude) from Ottawa University, and an M.B.A. with high honors from Harvard Business School (George F. Baker Scholar) . His pay mix is anchored by a $425,000 base salary with a 40% target bonus and sizable time‑vesting stock options that align him with shareholders; he beneficially owned 269,683 shares (including options exercisable within 60 days) or 1.6% of common stock as of May 6, 2025 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| DisperSol Technologies / AustinPx Pharmaceutics & Manufacturing | Chief Financial Officer | 2020–2022 | CFO of private pharma CDMO prior to joining Coya |
| Exicure, Inc. (Nasdaq: XCUR) | Chief Financial Officer | 2014–2020 | Public biotech CFO (nucleic acid therapeutics) |
| Cellular Dynamics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICEL) | Chief Financial Officer | 2008–2014 | Public biotech CFO (iPSC‑based tools/therapeutics) |
| Roche NimbleGen | SVP Finance, Site VP, Chief Financial Officer | 2007–2008 | Business unit finance leadership in genomics tools |
| Various (real estate, software, manufacturing) | Chief Financial Officer | Pre‑2007 | CFO roles across sectors; early career with investor Sam Zell |
External Roles
No public company directorships or external board roles disclosed for Snyder .
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary ($) | 425,000 | 425,000 |
| Target bonus (% of base) | 40% | 40% |
| Actual annual bonus paid ($) | 185,938 | 170,000 |
Performance Compensation
| Component | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash bonus payout ($) | 185,938 | 170,000 |
| Stock option awards – grant‑date fair value ($) | 336,950 | 870,084 |
| Performance metrics used for bonus | Company‑set objectives (not specified in proxy) | Company‑set objectives (not specified in proxy) |
Equity Award Detail and Vesting
| Grant date | Security | Underlying shares (total) | Exercise price ($) | Expiration | Vesting schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/28/2022 | Nonstatutory stock options | 87,788 (80,472 exercisable; 7,316 unexercisable at 12/31/24) | 3.48 | 06/28/2032 | 33.3% vested 03/14/23; remainder monthly over 24 months from 04/14/23 |
| 02/27/2023 | Nonstatutory stock options | 115,000 (70,277 exercisable; 44,723 unexercisable at 12/31/24) | 3.85 | 02/27/2033 | Monthly over 36 months from 03/27/23 |
| 01/31/2024 | Nonstatutory stock options | 81,819 (25,000 exercisable; 56,819 unexercisable at 12/31/24) | 5.90 | 01/31/2034 | Monthly over 36 months from 02/29/24 |
| 06/03/2024 | Nonstatutory stock options | 70,596 (13,727 exercisable; 56,869 unexercisable at 12/31/24) | 8.15 | 06/03/2034 | Monthly over 36 months from 07/03/24 |
Note: The company granted options exclusively; no RSUs/PSUs for Snyder are disclosed. All vesting is service‑based; no performance‑vesting schedules are disclosed for Snyder .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| As‑of date | Common shares owned | Options exercisable within 60 days | Warrants | Total beneficial ownership | % of shares outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 22, 2024 | 7,000 | 114,942 | 3,500 | 125,442 | <1% | Excludes 87,846 unexercisable options |
| May 6, 2025 | 8,800 | 260,883 | — | 269,683 | 1.6% | Excludes 234,882 unexercisable options |
- Anti‑hedging policy: Officers, directors, and employees (and related parties) are prohibited from hedging/monetization transactions (e.g., collars, forwards) .
- Pledging: No explicit disclosure of pledging by Snyder; no pledging policy is described in the proxy beyond anti‑hedging .
- Stock ownership guidelines: Not disclosed in the proxy .
Employment Terms
| Term | Details |
|---|---|
| Agreement | Executive Employment Agreement dated March 14, 2022 |
| Role | CFO & COO |
| Base salary | $425,000 per year (subject to review) |
| Target bonus | 40% of base salary; based on company‑set objectives |
| Initial equity grant | Option to purchase 87,788 shares (at hire) |
| Severance (without cause) | 9 months base salary, subject to release; no severance for cause |
| Change‑of‑control | No separate CoC payments/arrangements for named executive officers |
| Term/renewal | Initial 2‑year term; auto‑renews for 1‑year terms unless either party gives 30 days’ notice before term end |
| At‑will | Employment is at‑will; either party may terminate at any time |
| Clawback | Company equity plan is subject to clawback consistent with listing standards and law |
| Benefits | Eligible for standard company benefit plans |
Investment Implications
- Ownership and option alignment: Snyder’s beneficial stake grew to 269,683 shares (1.6%) as of May 6, 2025, driven primarily by options becoming exercisable—aligning incentives with equity value creation .
- Monthly vesting cadence: Four option grants vest monthly across overlapping schedules (2023–2027), creating a steady cadence of potential exercisability and liquidity windows for an insider—useful for anticipating periodic Form 4 activity and potential supply overhang as tranches vest .
- Moderate severance; no parachute: A nine‑month salary severance (no CoC multipliers) suggests moderate retention protection without shareholder‑unfriendly parachutes; no CoC acceleration terms are disclosed specific to Snyder outside plan‑level discretion .
- Governance practices: Anti‑hedging policy reduces misalignment risk; no disclosure of pledging or ownership‑multiple guidelines, leaving open questions on minimum holding expectations for senior officers .
Appendices
Summary Compensation Table (Multi‑Year)
| Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Option Awards – Grant‑date fair value ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 425,000 | 185,938 | 336,950 | 947,888 |
| 2024 | 425,000 | 170,000 | 870,084 | 1,465,084 |