Erin Parsons
KIORA PHARMACEUTICALSAbout Erin Parsons
Erin Parsons (age 49) is an independent Class III director of Kiora Pharmaceuticals (KPRX) and Chair of the Compensation Committee; she has served on Kiora’s board since 2022 and holds a B.S. in Biology from Wake Forest University . She founded Parsons Medical Communications, an ophthalmic-focused scientific and strategic consulting agency, which she led from 2010 until its acquisition by Fingerpaint Group in September 2022, reflecting deep domain expertise in ophthalmology and commercialization strategy . She previously served on the board of Alimera Sciences (NASDAQ: ALIM) from December 2021 until its acquisition by ANI Pharmaceuticals in September 2024, adding retinal health market insight and public board experience . Kiora classifies Parsons as independent under Nasdaq rules, and her current board term expires at the 2027 annual meeting .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parsons Medical Communications, LLC | Founder; President (2010–Sep 2022); Managing Director through sale | 2010–2022 | Built ophthalmic-focused scientific and strategic advisory platform; acquired by Fingerpaint Group (Sep 2022) |
| — | — | — | — |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alimera Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALIM) | Director | Dec 2021–Sep 2024 | Served until Alimera’s acquisition by ANI Pharmaceuticals (Sept 2024) |
Board Governance
- Independence: Kiora’s board deems all directors independent except the CEO (Brian Strem) and Aron Shapiro; Parsons is independent under Nasdaq rules .
- Board classification and term: Kiora has a classified board; Parsons is a Class III director with term expiring at the 2027 annual meeting .
- Committee assignments:
- Compensation Committee: Chair (membership: Praveen Tyle, Lisa Walters‑Hoffert, and Erin Parsons; met 6 times in 2024) .
- Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee: Member (Chair: David Hollander; members: David Hollander, Erin Parsons, Carmine Stengone; met once in 2024) .
- Attendance: In 2024 the board met 5 times, and each director attended at least 75% of board and applicable committee meetings .
- Executive sessions and leadership: Non‑employee directors meet regularly in executive sessions; the board is led by a non‑executive Chair (Praveen Tyle) separate from the CEO .
Fixed Compensation
- Director cash program (structure):
- $40,000 annual retainer for board service .
- Committee fees: Audit member $10,000; Compensation member $7,500; Nominating & Governance member $5,000 .
- Chair fees: Audit Chair $15,000; Compensation Chair $15,000; Nominating & Governance Chair $7,500 .
- Non‑executive Board Chair/Lead Independent Director: $60,000 .
- Pro‑rata reduction applies if attendance falls below 75% for the relevant body .
| Director (2024) | Cash Fees ($) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Erin Parsons | 45,000 |
Performance Compensation
- Director equity program (structure):
- Initial and annual non‑statutory option grants under the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, with exercise price at grant-date fair market value, 10‑year term .
- Initial grants: 1/3 vests at first anniversary, then monthly over 24 months; annual grants vest in full on the one‑year anniversary .
| Director (2024) | Option Award Grant-Date Fair Value ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Erin Parsons | 11,173 | Aggregate grant-date fair value in 2024 |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public company directorships: None disclosed (Alimera tenure ended Sept 2024) .
- Compensation Committee interlocks: None; no KPRX executive served on another entity’s comp committee with a KPRX executive reciprocally serving on Kiora’s comp committee during the year .
- Related-party transactions: None exceeding the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of average total assets since Jan 1, 2024; only standard compensation and indemnification arrangements disclosed .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Ophthalmology sector depth: 10+ years leading an ophthalmic consulting firm advising small and large companies on scientific and strategic matters .
- Public company board experience: Director at Alimera Sciences (retinal health) through its sale in 2024, adding transaction and governance exposure in related markets .
- Academic credentials: B.S. in Biology, Wake Forest University .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Held | Options Exercisable within 60 Days | Total Beneficial Ownership | % Outstanding (as of 4/16/2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Parsons | 5,260 | 1,471 | 6,731 | <1% (starred per table note) |
Additional equity context:
- Options outstanding (non‑employee directors, as of 12/31/2024): Parsons had 3,249 options outstanding at year-end 2024 (aggregate count) .
- Anti‑hedging/pledging: Insider Trading Policy prohibits hedging, short sales, and pledging/margining company securities absent advance approval .
Governance Assessment
-
Strengths
- Independent director leading the Compensation Committee, with active committee cadence (6 meetings in 2024), signaling engaged oversight of pay and succession planning .
- Relevant domain expertise in ophthalmology and prior public board experience enhances strategic oversight and industry connectivity .
- Attendance at or above minimum thresholds across directors and committees, supporting board effectiveness .
- Anti‑hedging/pledging policy strengthens alignment with long‑term shareholders .
- No related‑party transactions or interlocks identified, reducing conflict risk .
-
Watch items
- Director cash/equity mix for Parsons in 2024 was weighted toward cash (cash fees $45,000 vs. option value $11,173), which may modestly temper equity alignment relative to peers relying more on equity retainers; however, aggregate equity exposure is supported by outstanding director options and ongoing annual equity grants .
- Beneficial ownership is below 1% of shares outstanding, typical for micro-cap boards but offering limited direct economic alignment absent robust equity retainer accumulation over time .
-
Red Flags
- None identified in filings regarding related‑party dealings, hedging/pledging exceptions, option repricing, or attendance shortfalls .
Director Compensation Detail (Program Reference)
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board annual retainer (Non‑employee) | $40,000 | All independent directors |
| Audit Committee Chair | $15,000 | Additional to retainer |
| Compensation Committee Chair | $15,000 | Parsons’ role |
| Nominating & Governance Chair | $7,500 | — |
| Audit Committee Member (non‑chair) | $10,000 | — |
| Compensation Committee Member (non‑chair) | $7,500 | — |
| Nominating & Governance Member (non‑chair) | $5,000 | Parsons’ role |
| Non‑Executive Board Chair/Lead Independent Director | $60,000 | For chair role (currently Praveen Tyle) |
| Attendance Adjustment | Pro‑rata reduction if <75% attendance | Policy applies to board/committees |
Fixed Compensation (Erin Parsons, 2024)
| Year | Cash Fees ($) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45,000 |
Performance Compensation (Erin Parsons, 2024)
| Year | Option Awards – Grant-Date Fair Value ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,173 | As reported in Director Compensation Table |
Equity Ownership (Detail)
- Beneficial ownership (as of April 16, 2025): 6,731 shares (5,260 shares held; 1,471 options exercisable within 60 days), less than 1% of shares outstanding .
- Options outstanding at 12/31/2024 (non‑employee director aggregate): 3,249 options for Parsons .
Policies and Protections Relevant to Directors
- Indemnification: Kiora provides indemnification to directors to the fullest extent under Delaware law and maintains D&O insurance; separate indemnification agreements are in place with directors .
- Effect of indemnification: While protective for directors, these provisions can reduce derivative litigation likelihood and may impose costs on stockholders in adverse scenarios, consistent with standard public company practice .
Summary Signals for Investors
- Parsons’ independence, chair role on the Compensation Committee, and ophthalmology specialization support governance quality and sector-relevant oversight .
- No disclosed related‑party transactions, interlocks, or hedging/pledging exceptions; attendance meets board thresholds, collectively supportive of investor confidence .
- Director pay structure combines cash and options; Parsons’ 2024 pay skews to cash with ongoing equity participation, aligning with Kiora’s director compensation program and vesting design .