Alessandro Riva
About Alessandro Riva
Independent non‑executive director since February 2022; age 64. Co‑Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee and member of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. Medical doctor with board certifications in oncology and hematology (University of Milan). Former global oncology executive at Novartis and Gilead; currently Chair & CEO of Transgene and director at Century Therapeutics . The Board classifies him as independent under Nasdaq/HK Listing Rules; all then‑serving directors met at least 75% attendance in 2024 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transgene S.A. | Chairman & Chief Executive Officer | 2023–Present | Leads oncology virotherapy company |
| Intima Bioscience | Chief Executive Officer | 2021–2023 | Cell therapy development leadership |
| Ichnos Sciences | Chief Executive Officer | 2019–2021 | Oncology and immunology pipeline leadership |
| Gilead Sciences | EVP, Global Head of Oncology Therapeutics and Cell & Gene Therapy | 2017–2019 | Built oncology franchise and CGT strategy |
| Novartis Pharmaceuticals/Novartis Oncology | EVP & Global Head of Oncology Development & Medical Affairs; Ad‑Interim President | Prior roles | Led global oncology development organization |
| Breast Cancer International Research Group; Cancer International Research Group | Co‑Founder; Co‑Founder & CEO | Prior | Established global oncology research consortia |
| Farmitalia Carlo Erba; Rhône‑Poulenc Rorer; Aventis | Various roles | Prior | Early pharma leadership roles |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transgene S.A. (Euronext Paris) | Chair & CEO | 2023 | Public company leadership |
| Century Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ) | Director | 2021 | Public company directorship |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Co‑Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee; Member, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee .
- Independence: Board determined he is independent (all directors except the CEO and Dr. Xiaodong Wang are independent) .
- Attendance: In 2024, each then‑serving director attended at least 75% of Board and relevant committee meetings .
- Staggered board/term: Class I director continuing in office until the 2026 AGM .
- Service contracts: Company states it does not enter into service contracts with directors .
- Stock ownership policy: Non‑employee directors must hold equity equal to 5x the annual Board cash retainer; all directors were in compliance as of Dec 31, 2024 .
Fixed Compensation
Director fee policy (paid quarterly):
| Element | Amount (US$) |
|---|---|
| Annual Board retainer (independent directors) | 65,000 |
| Audit Committee – Chair / Member | 35,000 / 17,500 |
| Compensation Committee – Chair / Member | 30,000 / 15,000 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance – Chair / Member | 20,000 / 10,000 |
| Scientific Advisory Committee – Chair / Member | 20,000 / 10,000 |
| Commercial & Medical Affairs Advisory – Chair / Member | 20,000 / 10,000 |
Dr. Riva – 2024 cash fees (actual):
| Year | Cash Fees (US$) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 94,750 |
Notes: His roles (SAC Co‑Chair; Nominating member) align with policy rates that would sum to approximately $95,000 before rounding/proration .
Performance Compensation
Director equity policy and 2024 actuals:
- Policy: Upon appointment and annually, equity awards valued at $400,000 (50% stock options, 50% RSUs), vesting fully by the next AGM or one year; options priced at or above fair market value; directors may elect to defer RSU settlement; annual director total comp cap $1,000,000 (first‑year exception) .
- Dr. Riva 2024 equity grants (grant‑date fair value): Stock awards $199,901; Option awards $199,995; Total equity value $399,896 .
No performance metrics apply to director equity; awards are time‑based per the Independent Director Compensation Policy .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Interlock/Overlap | Potential Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transgene S.A. | External executive role | No BeiGene/BeOne related‑party transactions with Transgene disclosed in 2024–2025 proxy; Audit Committee pre‑approves related‑party transactions policy . |
| Century Therapeutics, Inc. | External directorship | No interlocks or related‑party transactions disclosed involving Dr. Riva . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- M.D. in medicine and surgery; board‑certified in oncology and hematology (University of Milan) .
- Deep oncology R&D and global development leadership (Novartis Oncology, Gilead) and biotech CEO experience (Ichnos, Intima, Transgene) .
- Co‑Chair of ONC’s Scientific Advisory Committee, providing oversight and guidance on R&D priorities .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Total Beneficial Ownership (Ordinary Shares) | % Outstanding | Directly Held | Options/RSUs exercisable/vesting within 60 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Alessandro Riva | 113,815 | <1% | 29,614 | 84,201 |
Additional alignment safeguards:
- Pledging/hedging generally prohibited without approval; directors in compliance with stock ownership policy as of Dec 31, 2024 .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent; significant oncology leadership; Co‑Chair of SAC (deep involvement in R&D oversight); consistent attendance; equity‑heavy director pay with clear policy; ownership guidelines met by all directors .
- Compensation alignment: Standardized retainer plus equity (50/50 options/RSUs), annual $400k equity value for directors; 2024 cash fees and equity consistent with policy .
- Conflicts/related‑party: No Dr. Riva–specific related‑party transactions disclosed; Audit Committee reviews and must approve any related‑party dealings over $120,000 .
- Watch items: Concurrent external leadership in oncology (Transgene CEO) warrants routine monitoring for potential competitive or transactional overlaps; Board affirms independence under Nasdaq/HK rules .
Say‑on‑Pay context (company‑wide): 88.2% approval at 2024 AGM, indicating general shareholder support for compensation governance (for NEOs) .