Garen Bohlin
Karyopharm TherapeuticsAbout Garen G. Bohlin
Independent director of Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. since October 2013; age 77; B.S. in Accounting (University of Illinois). Former biopharma COO/CEO with deep audit and finance background; designated audit committee financial expert and currently chairs KPTI’s Audit Committee. Class III director up for election in 2025 for a term expiring at the 2028 annual meeting. Independence affirmed by the Board under Nasdaq rules.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constellation Pharmaceuticals (private) | Executive Vice President | 2010–2012 | Senior operating leader pre-IPO/private stage |
| Sirtris Pharmaceuticals | Chief Operating Officer | 2006–2009 | Post-acquisition integration experience (GSK acquired) |
| Syntonix Pharmaceuticals | President & CEO | 1999–2008 | Led company through acquisition by Biogen Idec |
| Genetics Institute | Executive Management | ~14 years (prior to Syntonix) | Large-scale biotech operator; company later acquired by Wyeth |
| Arthur Andersen & Co. | Partner | 13 years | Public accounting leadership; foundation for audit expertise |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Public/Private | Committees/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. | Director | 2015–present | Public | Audit; Compensation |
| Curadel Surgical Innovations, Inc. | Chairman | 2020–present | Private | Chair of board |
| Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. | Director | 2014–2020 | Public | Audit; Compensation; Nominating & Corporate Governance |
| Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Director | 2010–July 2020 | Public | Audit Committee |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined Bohlin is independent under Nasdaq Listing Rules; serves on independent committees.
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee Chair; Nominating, Corporate Governance & Compliance Committee member.
- Financial expert: Board designated Bohlin an audit committee financial expert.
- Attendance: Board met 8 times in 2024; each incumbent director attended ≥75% of aggregate Board and committee meetings.
- Election/term: Class III nominee at 2025 annual meeting; term through 2028 if elected.
- Lead Independent Director: Role held by Barry E. Greene (not Bohlin); Greene presides over executive sessions.
| Committee | Role | 2024 Meeting Count |
|---|---|---|
| Audit | Chair | 7 |
| Nominating, Corporate Governance & Compliance | Member | 4 |
Fixed Compensation
| Compensation Element | Amount / Terms | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Board annual cash retainer (policy) | $50,000 | |
| Audit Committee Chair retainer (policy) | $20,000 | |
| Nominating Committee member retainer (policy) | $10,000 | |
| 2024 Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (actual) | $80,000 | |
| Director compensation cap (incumbent) | $750,000 per calendar year |
- Policy includes reimbursement of reasonable travel/lodging/meeting expenses.
- Limits on overboarding: non-CEO directors may serve on no more than five public company boards.
Performance Compensation
| Equity Element | Grant Date | Shares | Grant-date Fair Value | Vesting | Expiration | Exercise Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual stock option award (2024) | May 29, 2024 | 4,600 | $46,078 | Vests in full on 1st anniversary | 10 years | Equal to FMV at grant |
- Director annual and initial option grants are non-qualified options; annual grants vest 1 year; initial grants (upon board entry) vest 1/3 at year 1 then monthly through year 3.
- Plan governance features: no repricing without shareholder approval; minimum one-year vesting (95% of pool); no evergreen; clawback applies; double-trigger acceleration upon change in control and qualifying termination.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Sector | Potential Interlock/Conflict Note |
|---|---|---|
| Collegium Pharmaceutical (public) | Specialty pharma | No disclosed related-party transactions with KPTI. |
| Curadel Surgical Innovations (private) | Medical imaging | No disclosed related-party transactions with KPTI. |
| Former: Proteon Therapeutics; Tetraphase (public) | Biotech | Historical roles; no current interlocks disclosed. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Accounting and audit: B.S. in Accounting; 13 years as Arthur Andersen partner; designated audit committee financial expert.
- Biopharma operating leadership: CEO/COO/EVP roles across multiple biotech companies and successful M&A integrations (Biogen Idec; GSK acquisitions).
- Board governance depth: Committee leadership (Audit Chair) and membership (Nominating) at KPTI; committee service at multiple public companies.
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | As-of Date |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (total) | 18,752 shares (<1%) | April 10, 2025 |
| Owned shares (direct) | 3,009 | April 10, 2025 |
| Options exercisable within 60 days | 15,743 | April 10, 2025 |
| Outstanding options (total) | 16,409 | December 31, 2024 |
- Anti-hedging/anti-pledging: Company prohibits directors/officers/employees from hedging or pledging KPTI stock.
- Section 16 compliance: All directors timely complied in 2024; one late Form 3 was by another employee, not Bohlin.
Governance Assessment
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Strengths: Independent director with deep audit/finance credentials; Audit Chair and financial expert; consistent attendance; equity-based director pay aligns incentives; robust plan features (no repricing, clawback, double-trigger).
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Alignment: Holds options and direct shares; annual equity awards vest on a one-year schedule; director pay structure capped and transparent.
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Potential red flags: None disclosed specific to Bohlin—no related-party transactions; anti-pledging policy lowers alignment risk; beneficial ownership is <1% (typical for directors of a small-cap), which may modestly limit “skin-in-the-game.”
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Board signals: Re-nominated in 2025 as Class III with long tenure since 2013, suggesting continuity and audit oversight stability as KPTI navigates clinical/commercial priorities.