Eiry Roberts
AMICUS THERAPEUTICSAbout Eiry W. Roberts, M.D.
Independent director at Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD) since June 2021; age 61. Former Eli Lilly senior executive; currently Chief Medical Officer at Neurocrine Biosciences. Medical degree from University of London with post‑graduate clinical training in clinical pharmacology and cardiology at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and the Royal London Hospital. Brings 25+ years’ drug development and commercialization experience across research through launch, regulatory affairs, pricing, and access .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | Senior/executive roles culminating as Vice President in R&D; Chair of Medical Review Committee | 26 years | Led R&D programs across phases; chaired medical review; deep regulatory and development governance exposure |
| Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. | Chief Medical Officer | Current | Executive leadership over development and medical affairs; commercialization insight |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University, Dept. of Clinical Pharmacology | Adjunct Professor of Medicine | Current | Academic oversight and clinical pharmacology expertise |
| Healthcare Business Women’s Association | Member | Current | Industry engagement |
| Springboard Ventures Steering Committee | Member (prior) | Prior | Ecosystem participation |
| Indiana Health Forum | Member (prior) | Prior | Policy engagement |
| Indianapolis Children’s Choir | Board member (prior) | Prior | Non-profit governance |
| St. Richard’s Episcopal School | Board of Trustees (prior) | Prior | Non-profit governance |
Board Governance
- Independence: Determined independent under Nasdaq rules .
- Tenure: Director since 2021; Class II director with term ending at 2027 Annual Meeting .
- Committees: Compensation and Leadership Development Committee (member); Science and Technology Committee (member) .
- Attendance: Board/committee attendance ≥75% in 2024; overall Board attendance 98%; Roberts missed two committee meetings due to illness .
- Engagement: Board conducts annual third‑party self‑evaluation and structured interviews; committees oversee risk (including S&T risk in GxP/pharmacovigilance) .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $50,000 | Standard for non-employee directors |
| Committee membership fees | $17,500 | $10,000 for Compensation Committee; $7,500 for Science & Technology Committee |
| Total cash fees (2024) | $67,500 | Reported “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” |
| Director equity grant (policy value) | $365,000 | Increased from $325,000 in 2024; 2/3 Options, 1/3 RSUs; vests fully one year from grant (annual awards) |
| RSU grant (2024) | $121,667 | Grant-date fair value per director comp table |
| Option grant (2024) | $243,333 | Grant-date fair value per director comp table |
| Total (cash + equity) | $432,500 | 2024 total for Roberts |
Performance Compensation (Director Equity Structure)
| Metric | 2024 Value/Term | Vesting/Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual equity mix | 2/3 Options; 1/3 RSUs | Annual grants vest in full on first anniversary of grant date | Policy change to $365k value from 2024 onward |
| Initial director grants (if applicable) | $500,000 (50% RSUs / 50% Options) | RSUs: 25% per year over 4 years; Options: 25% at 1 year, then monthly over 3 years | Applies to newly appointed directors; not applicable to Roberts in 2024 |
| Option term | 10 years | Exercise price = FMV at grant; no repricing without shareholder approval | Plan mechanics and anti-repricing |
| Dividends on equity | No dividends on options; RSU dividend equivalents subject to same vesting | Alignment with long-term ownership |
No director performance metrics (e.g., TSR targets) are tied to director equity; grants are time-based per policy .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Public company boards: None disclosed for Roberts; she serves as an operating executive (CMO) at Neurocrine Biosciences, not as a director .
- Potential interlocks: None disclosed with FOLD competitors/suppliers/customers; committee independence affirmed .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Drug development leadership across phases, regulatory frameworks, and commercialization; prior chair of a major pharma medical review committee .
- Clinical pharmacology and cardiology training; M.D. University of London; adjunct academic role .
- Focused S&T governance: Sits on Science & Technology Committee overseeing product quality, safety, GxP, pharmacovigilance and manufacturing strategy .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 214,850 shares | Includes options exercisable within 60 days, RSUs vesting within 60 days, and shares held |
| Ownership % of outstanding | <1% | As defined in proxy (“*” less than one percent) |
| Options outstanding | 158,989 | 111,433 vested / 47,556 unvested at 12/31/2024 |
| RSUs outstanding | 17,539 | Aggregate RSUs outstanding |
| Shares held of record | 38,322 | As disclosed in footnote for Roberts |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | Company policy prohibits hedging/pledging by directors |
| Ownership guidelines | 3× annual retainer | Directors have 5 years to comply; all directors on track or compliant |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Independent director with deep R&D and regulatory background; sits on both Compensation and S&T committees, aligning expertise with oversight needs .
- Strong attendance culture; overall Board 98% in 2024; Roberts’ two missed committee meetings were due to illness (disclosed), indicating transparency .
- Compensation Committee uses independent consultant (Pay Governance) with no conflicts; robust pay governance and clawback compliance under Nasdaq 10D .
- Stock ownership guidelines and anti‑hedging/pledging policies enhance alignment and mitigate risk .
-
Watch items / potential red flags:
- Increase in annual director equity grant value (to $365k in 2024) may indicate pay inflation risk; monitor future increases relative to performance and peer practice .
- Dual role as CMO at NBIX could raise time‑commitment/conflict considerations in some circumstances, though no related‑party transactions or conflicts disclosed; Board sets limits on outside board service and maintains independence determinations .
- Two committee meeting absences, albeit illness‑related; continue monitoring attendance against high Board standard .
-
Shareholder signaling:
- Say‑on‑pay support at ~97% in 2024 suggests investor confidence in compensation oversight; IR engaged holders representing ~64% of shares .
- Director equity vesting is time‑based; no performance metrics for directors, limiting potential misalignment from formulaic performance‑pay at the board level .
No related‑party transactions involving Roberts were disclosed; the only item noted pertained to BIO dues linked to a former executive chairman’s external role .
Notes on Committee Work Relevant to Investors
- Compensation & Leadership Development Committee: Oversees CEO pay, executive succession, human capital disclosures, corporate multiplier/scorecard, and uses Pay Governance; Roberts is a member (not chair) .
- Science & Technology Committee: Oversees R&D competitiveness, manufacturing strategy, GxP/pharmacovigilance risk, regulatory interactions; Roberts’ medical and development background is directly relevant .