Daniel M. Bradbury
About Daniel M. Bradbury
Independent Chair of Castle Biosciences’ Board since September 2014; director since September 2012. Age 63. Background includes Executive Chairman of Equillium, Inc.; founder/managing member of BioBrit, LLC; former President & CEO of Amylin Pharmaceuticals; prior marketing/sales roles at SmithKline Beecham. Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy, Nottingham University; Diploma in Management Studies, University of West London (UK) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | President, CEO and Director | 2007–2012 | Led company through acquisition by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2012 |
| SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals | Marketing & Sales roles | ~10 years (prior to Amylin) | Commercial leadership experience |
| Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Director | 2016–2023 | Public company board experience |
| Biocon Limited | Director | 2013–2022 | Public company board experience |
| Corcept Therapeutics, Inc. | Director | 2012–2019 | Public company board experience |
| Geron Corporation | Director | 2012–2019 | Public company board experience |
| Illumina, Inc. | Director | 2004–2017 | Public company board experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equillium, Inc. | Executive Chairman | Since Jan 2020 | Co-founded; previously CEO (2018–2019) and President (2017–2018) |
| Vivani Medical Inc. | Director | Current | Public company |
| BioBrit, LLC | Managing Member | Since Sep 2012 | Life sciences consulting and investment firm |
| Various privately held companies | Director | Current | Portfolio board service |
Board Governance
- Role: Independent Chair; not a member of board committees .
- Independence: Board determined Bradbury is independent under Nasdaq and SEC rules .
- Board leadership: Chair is independent and separate from CEO; facilitates objective oversight and risk monitoring .
- Meetings and attendance: Board met 8 times and acted by consent 6 times in 2024; all directors attended at least 75% of board/committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Committee landscape and cadence: Audit (4), Compensation (3), Nominating & Corporate Governance (4) meetings in 2024 .
- Director time commitment policy: Non-officer directors may serve on up to 4 public company boards in addition to Castle; all directors in compliance as of Mar 31, 2025 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Policy | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned (Cash) – 2024 | $91,250 | |
| Stock Awards (Grant-date fair value) – 2024 | $205,897 | |
| Total – 2024 | $297,147 | |
| Annual Director Cash Retainer (effective May 2024) | $47,500 | |
| Additional Cash Retainer – Board Chair | $45,000 | |
| Committee Member Retainers | Audit $10,000; Compensation $7,500; Nominating $5,000 | |
| Committee Chair Retainers | Audit $20,000; Compensation $20,000; Nominating $10,000 | |
| Annual Equity for Current Directors | RSUs valued at $200,000; vest in full by next annual meeting/1 year | |
| New Director Initial Equity | RSUs valued at $350,000; vest ratably over 3 years | |
| Plan Terms | Options typically 10-year term; full vesting upon change in control per plan; RSU/option grants under 2019 Plan |
Note: Cash retainer policy changes were approved in May 2024; Bradbury’s 2024 cash fees reflect the year’s aggregate as reported .
Performance Compensation
- Non-employee director compensation at Castle consists of cash retainers and time-based equity (RSUs; options historically used and may be used) with no disclosed performance-vesting components for directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Equillium, Inc. | Executive Chairman | None disclosed with Castle; Board affirmed independence |
| Vivani Medical Inc. | Director | None disclosed with Castle |
| BioBrit, LLC | Managing Member | Ownership disclosure via Bradbury Family Trust; no related party transactions disclosed with Castle |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Board matrix attributes for Bradbury: Commercial execution; life sciences industry experience; financial analysis & control; R&D scientific leadership; regulatory/lab services reimbursement .
- As Chair, he shapes board agendas, facilitates communication, and supports independent oversight of management and risk, including cybersecurity/AI risks via committee oversight structure .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Beneficially owned shares | 63,212 (<1% of outstanding) |
| RSUs outstanding (as of Dec 31, 2024) | 8,673 |
| Options outstanding (as of Dec 31, 2024) | 49,921 |
| Stock ownership guidelines (Directors) | 3× annual cash retainer |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths:
- Independent Chair with deep operating and public board experience; clear separation from CEO enhances oversight .
- Robust governance policies: clawback, stock ownership guidelines, prohibition on hedging/pledging, annual Say-on-Pay with strong 2024 support (≈97%) .
- Documented director time commitment limits; compliance confirmed .
- Board/committee activity and attendance above 75% for all directors in 2024 .
- Potential Risks/Red Flags:
- Multiple external roles (Executive Chairman at Equillium; other boards) increase time demands, but within policy thresholds and independence affirmed .
- No related-party transactions disclosed involving Bradbury; Castle has formal related-person transaction review procedures (Audit Committee oversight) .
- Overall: Governance signals are positive—independent chair, strong policies, active board engagement, and ownership alignment mechanisms. No disclosed conflicts, pledging, or hedging; director compensation mix emphasizes equity, aligning interests with shareholders .