Joel Sussman
About Joel Sussman
Joel Sussman, age 76, serves as Galera Therapeutics’ Chief Accounting Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer; he has been CAO/Treasurer since April 2019, Secretary since September 2024, and previously served as CFO/Treasurer from December 2012 to April 2019 . He holds a B.A. from Yale, an M.B.A. from Wharton, and is a licensed CPA in Pennsylvania; he currently acts as principal financial officer, certifying Galera’s Q3 2025 Form 10-Q under Sections 302 and 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley . Recent corporate context includes a 2024 strategic review culminating in a proposed dissolution (not approved) and a December 2024 acquisition of Nova Pharmaceuticals with a strategic shift toward anti-cancer therapeutics, shaping the operating environment he supports .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galera Therapeutics | Chief Accounting Officer & Treasurer | Apr 2019–present | Principal financial officer duties and SEC certifications as of Q3 2025, supporting disclosure controls and financial reporting . |
| Galera Therapeutics | Secretary | Sep 2024–present | Corporate secretary responsibilities following departure of prior Secretary in 2024 . |
| Galera Therapeutics | Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | Dec 2012–Apr 2019 | Led finance through development stage and public-company reporting transition . |
| Various life sciences companies (private) | Consulting CFO | 2002–2012 | Provided CFO services to private life sciences companies (pre‑Galera) . |
External Roles
- No public-company directorships or external board roles disclosed in company filings reviewed for Joel Sussman; he is listed as the investor contact on an October 2025 press release .
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | 2023 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary ($) | Not disclosed | Sussman was not a named executive officer in the 2023 proxy, so his base salary was not reported . |
| Target Bonus (%) | Not disclosed | Bonus targets disclosed for NEOs only; Sussman’s target not reported . |
| Actual Bonus Paid ($) | Not disclosed | Company determined no 2023 bonuses for NEOs; Sussman’s payout not reported . |
Performance Compensation
| Incentive Element | Metric Design | Payout/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Bonus | Company uses a discretionary bonus plan with targets set as % of base salary; 2023 bonuses for NEOs were set to zero due to missed goals and financial situation . | Sussman’s specific bonus design/payout not disclosed (not a NEO) . |
| Equity Awards | Company grants stock options that typically vest monthly over 4 years; accelerated vesting applies for terminations within 12 months post‑change in control for time‑based awards . | Sussman’s grants/vesting schedules not disclosed (not a NEO) . |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- Individual beneficial ownership for Joel Sussman is not disclosed in the 2025 proxy tables; NEOs/directors are listed, along with group totals for executives and directors .
- Anti-hedging policy prohibits directors, officers, and employees from hedging company equity (e.g., prepaid forwards, swaps, collars, exchange funds), supporting alignment with shareholders .
- No pledging practices or stock ownership guidelines for Sussman are disclosed in reviewed filings .
Employment Terms
| Provision | Terms (as disclosed) | Applicability/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Severance (without cause / for good reason) | Base salary continuation for 9 months (12 months for CEO) and company‑paid/reimbursed COBRA for the same period . | Disclosed for named executive officers; Sussman’s agreement not disclosed . |
| Change‑in‑Control (CiC) severance | Cash severance equal to 1.0x salary+target bonus (1.5x for CEO) payable over 12–18 months; COBRA for 12–18 months; accelerated vesting of unvested time‑based equity; performance awards governed by award terms . | Disclosed for NEOs; Sussman’s terms not disclosed . |
| Non‑compete | 12 months post‑termination . | NEO agreements; Sussman’s specific terms not disclosed . |
| Non‑solicit | 12 months post‑termination . | NEO agreements; Sussman’s specific terms not disclosed . |
| Clawback/tax gross‑ups | Not specifically disclosed for executives; general governance documents referenced . | No executive‑specific clawback/gross‑up terms identified . |
Performance & Track Record
- Financial reporting leadership: Signed Q3 2025 10‑Q certifications (Sections 302/906), indicating responsibility for disclosure controls and fair presentation of financial condition and results .
- Corporate context: After a failed dissolution proposal in October 2024, Galera acquired Nova Pharmaceuticals on December 30, 2024 and pivoted to anti‑cancer therapeutics; this operational reset frames execution priorities for the finance function Sussman leads .
- Stock performance metrics (TSR), revenue growth, and EBITDA growth for his tenure are not disclosed in the reviewed documents .
Compensation Committee Analysis
- Committee composition: In 2025, Compensation Committee members were Lawrence Alleva (Audit/Nominating chairs) and Kevin Lokay (Compensation chair) .
- Consultant: Radford/AON engaged in 2023 to advise on executive and director compensation; committee determined no bonuses for 2023 due to missed objectives and financial considerations .
Risk Indicators & Red Flags
- Hedging banned: Company’s insider trading policy bans hedging and related instruments, reducing misalignment risk; pledging not explicitly addressed in filings reviewed .
- Succession/continuity: Sussman is 76 and currently serves as principal financial officer; continuity is material, but no specific retirement plans are disclosed .
- 2024 restructuring: CFO and COO positions were eliminated during strategic reviews; Sussman assumed Secretary role in September 2024, consolidating governance responsibilities .
Investment Implications
- Alignment and transparency: Limited disclosure of Sussman’s compensation and individual holdings constrains pay‑for‑performance and ownership alignment analysis; monitor future proxies and 10‑Ks/10‑Qs for any updates .
- Governance strength: Anti‑hedging policy is a positive alignment signal; lack of disclosed pledging restrictions is a neutral gap to watch .
- Retention/transition risk: Given age and the company’s strategic pivot post‑Nova acquisition, sustained principal financial officer engagement is important; no disclosed employment terms for Sussman suggests assessing continuity through SEC certifications and role stability over coming quarters .