Seng Chin Mah
About Seng Chin Mah
Dr. Seng Chin Mah (age 66) is an independent director of OSR Holdings, Inc., appointed at the closing of the business combination on February 14, 2025. He holds a BS in Pharmacology from the University of London (1984) and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Basel (1987). His 30+ year career spans pharma and biotech leadership with deep expertise in late-stage clinical development, regulatory affairs, and global product registrations, including senior roles at Novartis and CEO responsibilities in biotech ventures .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis (incl. Europharm Ltd.) | Board member, Novartis Europharm Ltd.; Global Head of Clinical Safety & Epidemiology; Head of Drug Regulatory Affairs Europe; Integration Office Development lead for Chiron integration | 1997–2005 (Board); 1997–2005 (Regulatory/Safety); 2005–2008 (Integration) | Member of Novartis Corporate Executive Group; Led numerous global product registrations |
| Canyon Pharmaceuticals Group AG | Chief Executive Officer | 2009–2021 | Won Frost & Sullivan 2011 Product Differentiation Excellence Award (Iprivask); drove late-stage development programs |
| Ciba-Geigy; National University of Singapore | Researcher/Academic | 1987–1990 | Early scientific roles underpinning later regulatory leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioVersys AG | Chairman of the Board | 2009–present | Swiss biotech; board leadership and governance |
| Novartis Europharm Ltd. | Board Director | 1997–2005 | Board service during major regulatory portfolio expansion |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board deems Dr. Mah “independent” under SEC and Nasdaq rules .
- Board composition: OSR fixed board size at seven, with nine nominees for seven seats; six current members are independent .
- Committee assignments: Not disclosed for individual directors in the 2025 DEF 14A. The Compensation Committee administers the Omnibus Incentive Plan generally, but director-specific committee memberships are not specified .
- Attendance/engagement: Board meeting attendance metrics are not disclosed in the proxy .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding |
|---|---|---|
| Seng Chin Mah | 0 | <1% |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Overlap/Interlock Risk |
|---|---|---|
| BioVersys AG | Private (Switzerland) | No disclosed transactions with OSRH; low direct-party conflict risk from the proxy . |
| Novartis Europharm Ltd. (historic) | Subsidiary of Novartis | Historic role only; no current interlocks disclosed . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Late-stage clinical, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory specialist; led global registrations at Novartis .
- Long-tenured biotech leadership (CEO/Chair), recognized for product differentiation (Iprivask) .
- Academic and scientific grounding supporting risk management in clinical development .
Governance Assessment
- Ownership alignment: Dr. Mah holds no OSRH shares as of August 15, 2025, indicating limited direct economic alignment; the proxy shows 0 shares and <1% ownership for him . Board-level alignment is concentrated with insiders (e.g., CEO Kuk Hyoun Hwang at 60.5%), which raises balance-of-power considerations for independent oversight .
- Compensation transparency: The proxy states no officer or director compensation was paid in 2024; and no stock-based awards had been granted before filing. While the Omnibus Plan enables director RSU/option grants, grant activity and director retainers/fees are not disclosed—reducing visibility into pay-for-performance alignment and committee chair premiums .
- Related-party exposure: The company pays Bellevue Capital Management LLC $7,500 per month for office and administrative services; BCM and affiliated entities are major holders and controlled by CEO Hwang—this is a governance red flag due to potential conflicts requiring robust independent oversight by directors like Dr. Mah .
- Dilution and financing risk: The White Lion equity line, warrants, and convertible notes could result in >20% issuance subject to shareholder approval; while not specific to Dr. Mah, this structure elevates governance scrutiny on board effectiveness and independent director engagement in financing terms and shareholder protections .
Net read: Dr. Mah’s regulatory and development experience is highly relevant, but lack of disclosed director compensation structure, zero share ownership, and board-level related party arrangements increase reliance on strong independence and committee work—committee assignments and attendance were not disclosed, leaving a gap investors should monitor .