Jack Ball
Cytek BiosciencesAbout Jack Ball
Jack Ball, age 78, is an independent Class II director of Cytek Biosciences who has served on the Board since September 2018; he previously served as Lead Independent Director until February 5, 2025, when Deborah Neff was appointed to that role . He currently chairs the Compensation Committee and serves on the Audit Committee; the Board determined he meets Nasdaq’s independence standards . In 2024, each Board member, including Mr. Ball, attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; the Board met eight times in 2024 . Mr. Ball holds a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Georgia and has deep operating and commercial experience in flow cytometry and life science tools .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solulink Inc. (biotechnology) | Chief Executive Officer and Board Member | Sep 2013 – Dec 2019 | CEO leadership in biotech tools; commercial execution |
| Accuri Cytometers, Inc. (sold to BD in Mar 2011) | Chief Commercial Officer | Feb 2006 – Jul 2011 | Led commercial operations through sale to Becton Dickinson |
| Amnis Corporation (biotechnology) | Chief Executive Officer | Prior to 2006 (dates not specified) | CEO leadership in cell analysis tools |
| Molecular Probes, Inc. (biotechnology) | Chief Commercial Officer | Prior to 2006 (dates not specified) | Commercial leadership in reagents |
| Orchid Biosciences (DNA testing) | SVP & General Manager | Prior to 2006 (dates not specified) | GM responsibilities in genomics testing |
| Amersham Pharmacia Biosciences (healthcare) | President, North America | Prior to 2006 (dates not specified) | Regional leadership in life science tools |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyball Associates LLC | President | 2011 – Present | Medical device consulting firm |
| Carterra, Inc. (biotechnology) | Director | 2016 – Present | Board service in life sciences tools |
| KromaTiD, Inc. (biotechnology) | Director | 2021 – Present | Board service in biotech |
| NanoCellect Biomedical, Inc. (biotechnology) | Director | Mar 2016 – Jun 2023 | Prior board service |
| Swift Biosciences Inc. (biotechnology) | Director | Oct 2010 – Mar 2021 | Prior board service |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board affirmed Mr. Ball’s independence under Nasdaq rules .
- Roles: Compensation Committee Chair; Audit Committee member .
- Lead Independent Director transition: Ms. Neff appointed Lead Independent Director effective Feb 5, 2025; Mr. Ball previously held that role, signaling refresh of independent leadership .
- Meetings and attendance: Board met eight times in 2024; all directors attended 75%+ of Board/committee meetings during their service period .
- Risk oversight via committees: Audit (financial reporting/internal controls), Compensation (compensation risk), Nominating & Corporate Governance (governance policies); Mr. Ball participates directly through Audit and as Chair of Compensation .
- Prohibitions: Company policy prohibits hedging, pledging, short sales for all directors, aligning with shareholder-friendly practices .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-employee director annual retainer | 50,000 | Policy effective 2024 |
| Lead Independent Director retainer | 30,000 | Mr. Ball served as Lead Independent Director prior to Feb 5, 2025 |
| Compensation Committee Chair retainer | 15,000 | Chair role in 2024 |
| Audit Committee member retainer | 10,000 | Member in 2024 |
| Fees earned (Jack Ball, 2024) | 105,000 | Reported in 2024 director comp table |
Year-over-year perspective (comp structure evolution):
| Year | Cash Fees ($) | Equity ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 95,000 | 160,000 options | 255,000 |
| 2024 | 105,000 | 89,995 RSUs; 89,996 options | 284,992 |
The 2023 policy raised the cash retainer to $50k and introduced a 50/50 RSU-option equity mix for annual director grants, increasing the annual equity value to $180k .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Element | 2024 Value | Vesting/Terms | Outstanding at 12/31/2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU grant | 89,995 | Annual grants vest on the one-year anniversary (service-based) | 15,706 RSUs |
| Annual stock option grant | 89,996 | Exercise price = FMV on grant; annual grants vest at one-year (service-based) | 79,107 options |
| Change-in-control treatment | — | All outstanding non-employee director options vest upon a change in control (service through CIC required) | — |
Director equity awards are time-based (no performance metrics disclosed) and designed to align with shareholders via equity ownership and service-based vesting .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Relationship to CTKB |
|---|---|---|
| Carterra, Inc. | Not specified as public in proxy | No related-party transaction disclosed involving Mr. Ball |
| KromaTiD, Inc. | Not specified as public in proxy | No related-party transaction disclosed involving Mr. Ball |
Related-party transactions sections for 2024–2025 list no transactions involving Mr. Ball; only indemnification agreements are noted for all directors .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Extensive executive experience across flow cytometry instruments and reagents, spanning CEO and commercial leadership roles (Amnis, Accuri Cytometers, Molecular Probes, Orchid, Amersham Pharmacia) .
- Board and operating experience in life science tools/biotech companies; President of Tyball Associates LLC since 2011 .
- Education: B.S. in Agriculture (University of Georgia) .
- The Board cites his extensive flow cytometry and industry experience as key qualifications for CTKB’s Board .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (3/31/2025) | 83,030 shares (<1% of outstanding) |
| Composition | 26,999 common shares; 56,031 options exercisable within 60 days |
| Outstanding RSUs (director awards) | 15,706 RSUs at 12/31/2024 |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for directors under the Insider Trading Policy |
Governance Assessment
- Independence and experience: Independent director with deep life science tools/flow cytometry operating background; serves in key governance roles (Compensation Chair; Audit member) .
- Engagement: Board held eight meetings in 2024; all directors met the 75%+ attendance threshold; Mr. Ball’s 2024 fees reflect service as LID, Comp Chair, and Audit member .
- Pay structure and alignment: 2023 policy increased director equity and introduced a 50/50 RSU-option mix; Mr. Ball received $179,991 in equity in 2024; no meeting fees; equity is service-vested and options are at FMV .
- Ownership and policies: Beneficial ownership of 83,030 shares; Company prohibits hedging/pledging; no shares pledged disclosed; standard indemnification applies .
- Conflicts/related-party exposure: No related-party transactions involving Mr. Ball disclosed in 2024–2025 proxies .
- CIC provisions: All director options vest upon change in control, which some investors scrutinize; policy is disclosed .
- Say-on-pay context: 2024 say-on-pay received over 85.8% support, signaling a constructive compensation governance environment (executive-focused but relevant to Board oversight) .
- Compliance: Section 16(a) delinquent filings disclosed for other insiders in recent years; 2025 proxy’s compliance section does not identify Mr. Ball .