Julianne Bruno
About Julianne Bruno
Julianne Bruno (age 40) joined Galecto’s Board on November 10, 2025 following the closing of a merger. She is a Growth Partner at Fairmount Funds and previously served as Chief Operating Officer at CRISPR Therapeutics, where she led multiple hematology and oncology programs and oversaw development of Casgevy. She holds an A.B. from Princeton University and an MBA from the Wharton School. Her appointment included immediate placements on the Audit and Compensation Committees.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ: CRSP) | Chief Operating Officer | May 23, 2024 – Apr 11, 2025 | Led programs across hematology/oncology; oversaw Casgevy development; stepped down without disagreements |
| CRISPR Therapeutics AG | SVP & Head of Programs & Portfolio | Mar 2023 – May 2024 | Oversaw immuno-oncology trials and portfolio management |
| McKinsey & Company | Leader, Biotech Practice | Aug 2015 – Mar 2019 | Served biotech clients on commercial topics |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmount Funds Management LLC | Growth Partner | May 2025 | Healthcare investment firm; colleagues Peter Harwin and Chris Cain appointed alongside Bruno at GLTO |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Compensation Committee member (Chair: Dr. Chris Cain).
- Independence status: No related-party transactions were disclosed at appointment for Bruno; directors will be compensated under GLTO’s non-employee director program. Prior GLTO standing committees comprised solely of independent directors under Nasdaq rules; current independence determinations for newly appointed directors were not separately stated.
- Board attendance baseline: In FY2024, GLTO’s Board held 22 meetings and committees met 10 times; all directors then in office attended at least 75% of applicable meetings. Bruno joined in Nov 2025; her attendance for FY2025 is not yet disclosed.
- Audit Committee remit includes cybersecurity/data protection risk oversight; related party transaction review and approval.
- Nominating & Governance remit includes ESG oversight and board/management evaluations.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Member Annual Fee ($) | Chair Annual Fee ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Board Retainer | 40,000 | 35,000 |
| Financing Committee | 15,000 | 10,000 |
| Audit Committee | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Compensation Committee | 7,500 | 7,500 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee | 5,000 | 5,000 |
- Reimbursement of reasonable travel and other expenses for Board/committee meetings.
Performance Compensation
| Grant Type | Grant Size | Vesting | Exercise Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Director Stock Option (upon appointment) | 720 shares | 2.778% monthly for 36 months (full vest at 3 years) | FMV at grant | Becomes exercisable in full upon specified change-in-control events |
| Annual Director Stock Option (each annual meeting) | 720 shares (Chair: 1,440) | 8.333% monthly for 12 months | FMV at grant | Same CIC acceleration provisions |
GLTO’s director program is option-based; no cash bonuses or performance scorecards are disclosed for directors. Compensation Recovery Policy (clawback) applies to executive officers’ incentive-based pay upon required restatements; directors are not listed as covered officers under this policy.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Person | Overlap/Interlock | Potential Conflict/Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Fairmount Funds affiliation | Bruno (Growth Partner), Harwin (Managing Member), Cain (Director of Research) appointed concurrently to GLTO Board | Investor-affiliated board presence; no Item 404 related-party transactions disclosed at appointment; independence determinations not explicitly stated post-merger |
| Bridge Medicines transaction (2024) | Chair Carl Goldfischer also Executive Chairman of Bridge Medicines; affiliated funds shareholders of both | Related party transaction approved; Series A Preferred convertible shares issued to Bridge Medicines; Audit/Nominating committees oversee related-party policies |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Operating executive across biotech portfolios; program leadership in hematology/oncology and immuno-oncology; commercialization pathway insight via Casgevy experience.
- Strategy and operations expertise from McKinsey biotech practice.
- Education: A.B. Princeton University; MBA Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania).
Equity Ownership
| Security | Amount | Form | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Stock (restricted) | 8,032 | Direct | 25% vests on Aug 22, 2026; remaining 75% vests in equal monthly installments over following 3 years, subject to continued service |
| Series C Preferred Stock (derivative) | 129,000 underlying common shares | Direct | Convertible; dates/exercise mechanics referenced in filing footnotes (2) and (3) |
Hedging/pledging GLTO stock is generally prohibited for directors unless approved by the Audit Committee; pre-clearance procedures apply.
Employment & Contracts (prior role at CRISPR Therapeutics)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Employment agreement (COO) | Base salary $460,000; target bonus 45% of base; one-time 20,000 RSU grant with 25% annual vesting over 4 years; pro-rated 2024 bonus; standard benefits |
| Notice/termination | Six-month notice for termination without cause or resignation for good reason; compensation continues and equity continues to vest during notice; pro-rated bonus during notice |
| 2024 compensation (reported) | Salary $434,124; Share Awards $2,208,700; Option Awards $1,460,623; Non-Equity Incentive $252,540; Other $13,800; Total $4,369,787 |
| Resignation | Stepped down effective April 11, 2025; no disagreement; no termination benefits |
Insider Trades and Ownership Filings
| Form | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| GLTO Form 3 (Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership) | Nov 17, 2025 | 8,032 restricted common shares; Series C Preferred Stock convertible into 129,000 common shares; Director relationship indicated; POA executed Nov 17, 2025 |
Governance Assessment
-
Strengths
- Deep operating background in biotech programs and portfolio management; relevant to pipeline governance and R&D prioritization.
- Appointed to Audit and Compensation Committees, bringing operational perspective to oversight of financial reporting, incentive structures, and portfolio decisions.
- No related-party transactions disclosed for Bruno at appointment; standard non-employee director compensation.
-
Risks and RED FLAGS
- Investor-affiliated board composition: simultaneous appointments of three Fairmount professionals (Harwin, Cain, Bruno) may raise investor influence/independence optics; independence determination for each not explicitly stated post-merger. This is a monitoring point, not a disclosed violation.
- Historical related-party transaction with Bridge Medicines involving Chair Goldfischer requires continued vigilance by Audit Committee; governance controls appear documented.
- Equity mix for directors relies on options; while alignment-positive, absence of disclosed performance metrics for directors means pay is not explicitly tied to outcomes beyond service vesting.
-
Signals affecting investor confidence
- Committee placements (Audit and Compensation) signal intent to engage Bruno in core oversight areas early in her tenure.
- GLTO’s codified policies on related-party transactions, hedging/pledging restrictions, and compensation recovery for executives bolster baseline governance frameworks.
Attendance, director-specific say-on-pay outcomes, ownership guidelines, pledging status, and any Form 4 activity for Bruno at GLTO have not been disclosed as of the latest filings reviewed; monitor forthcoming proxy and Section 16 filings for updates.