David Meek
uniQureAbout David Meek
David Meek (age 61) is a non-executive director at uniQure, serving on the Board since June 2018 and as Chair since June 2021. He brings 30+ years of biopharma operating leadership, including CEO roles at Mirati Therapeutics (Sept 2021–Aug 2023), FerGene (Jan 2020–Mar 2021), and Ipsen (Jul 2016–Jan 2020). He holds a B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and began his career at Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (1989–2004). As Chair, his duties include setting board agendas, ensuring effective information flow, fostering engagement among directors, and monitoring implementation of board decisions .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirati Therapeutics (Nasdaq: MRTX) | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Sep 2021–Aug 2023 | Led commercial-stage oncology biotech; company later acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb |
| FerGene | President, CEO & Director | Jan 2020–Mar 2021 | Gene therapy-focused oncology startup leadership |
| Ipsen | Chief Executive Officer & Director | Jul 2016–Jan 2020 | Led global biopharma; operational and strategic leadership |
| Baxalta (pre-Shire acquisition) | EVP & President, Oncology | Jul 2014–Jun 2016 | Oncology division leadership |
| Endocyte | Chief Commercial Officer | Aug 2012–Jul 2014 | Commercial leadership in oncology |
| Novartis | Global Franchise Head; CEO Novartis Canada; Regional Head Oncology (NCE Europe) | Jan 2005–Jun 2007; Jul 2007–Dec 2009; Jan 2010–Aug 2012 | Regional and country leadership; oncology franchise strategy |
| Johnson & Johnson / Janssen | Various senior roles | Jul 1989–Dec 2004 | Progressive executive responsibilities |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Start Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sobi (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum) | Chairman of the Board | Dec 2024 | Rare disease focus |
| Cullinan Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CGEM) | Director | May 2024 | Oncology/therapeutics |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined David Meek is independent under Nasdaq and SEC standards .
- Chair role: Non-executive Chair since June 2021 with defined responsibilities for agenda-setting, information quality, and director engagement .
- Committees:
- Compensation Committee member; committee met 8 times in 2024; all members attended ≥75% of meetings; WTW retained as independent consultant .
- Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee member; committee met 6 times in 2024; all members attended ≥75% .
- Board Attendance: Board met 9 times in 2024; all directors attended ≥75% of Board/committee meetings and attended the 2024 Annual Meeting; executive sessions of independent directors held regularly .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned (Cash) | $92,500 | Semi-annual retainer payments |
| Option Awards (Grant-date fair value) | $36,918 | ASC 718 fair value |
| RSU Awards (Grant-date fair value) | $36,926 | ASC 718 fair value |
| Total | $166,344 | FY2024 non-executive director compensation |
| Committee Retainers (Policy) | Member Retainer | Chair Retainer |
|---|---|---|
| Audit Committee | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Compensation Committee | $7,500 | $15,000 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Research & Development Committee | $7,500 | $15,000 |
Each non-executive director receives an annual equity grant composed of 50% options and 50% RSUs, with one-year vesting for each; the Compensation Committee reduced 2024 board equity grant values below the peer group 25th percentile due to share price decline and dilution considerations .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Grant Design | Mix | Vesting | 2024 Grant Values (Meek) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Board Equity | 50% options / 50% RSUs | One-year vest for each tranche | Options: $36,918; RSUs: $36,926 |
No performance-based metrics (e.g., TSR, EBITDA) are disclosed for director equity awards; grants are time-based for directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship Type | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Sobi | External public board (Chairman) | Specialty rare disease; no disclosed related-party transactions with uniQure |
| Cullinan Therapeutics | External public board (Director) | Oncology; no disclosed related-party transactions with uniQure |
| Mirati (former) | Former CEO/Director | Oncology; company acquired by BMS; no disclosed conflicts with uniQure |
The Audit Committee oversees review and approval of related-party transactions; no specific related-party exposures are disclosed for Meek .
Expertise & Qualifications
- 30+ years biopharma leadership across global pharma and biotech, including multiple CEO roles and oncology franchise leadership .
- Governance experience as non-executive Chair at uniQure and Chairman at Sobi; public company board experience at Cullinan .
- Education: B.A., University of Cincinnati .
- Board views him as qualified due to extensive biotech industry experience .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | As-of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficially Owned Shares | 79,189 | Mar 31, 2025 | <1% of outstanding; 54,729,000 shares outstanding |
| Options exercisable within 60 days | 60,537 | Mar 31, 2025 | Included in beneficial ownership methodology |
| Outstanding Ordinary Shares | 18,652 | Mar 31, 2025 | Direct share count component |
| Aggregate Outstanding Options | 76,377 | Dec 31, 2024 | Includes unexercised options (exercisable/unexercisable) |
| Aggregate Outstanding RSUs | 8,080 | Dec 31, 2024 | Includes unvested stock units |
| Shares Pledged/Hedging | None disclosed; pledging prohibited absent exception; no pledge requests by NEOs or directors in FY2024 | Policy level | Insider Trading Policy prohibits pledging; no FY2024 requests |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; non-executive Chair role separated from CEO; active engagement on Compensation and Nominating & Governance committees; good attendance; regular executive sessions; use of independent compensation consultant (WTW) .
- Alignment: Board equity grants reduced below peer 25th percentile to address dilution amid share price decline; director equity grants time-vested; clawback policy adopted and updated per Nasdaq rules (primarily for executives) .
- Potential Watch Items: Multiple external commitments (Chairman at Sobi; Director at Cullinan) could pose time-allocation risk during critical pipeline phases, though no conflicts or related-party transactions are disclosed; as Board Chair and Compensation Committee member, continued reliance on independent consulting and robust processes is paramount .
- Red Flags: None disclosed on related-party transactions, pledging/hedging, option repricing (explicitly prohibited without shareholder approval), or Section 16(a) reporting for Meek; one late Form 4 in 2024 pertained to another director due to technical issues .
Board Governance (Term and Attendance Details)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Board Meetings (2024) | 9 meetings; ≥75% attendance for all directors; all attended 2024 Annual Meeting; executive sessions held regularly |
| Committee Meetings (2024) | Compensation: 8 (≥75% attendance); Nominating & Governance: 6 (≥75% attendance) |
| Independence | Meek determined independent under Nasdaq/SEC rules |
| Term | Current term scheduled to expire at 2027 annual meeting |
Option repricing without shareholder approval is prohibited; this applies across the equity plans and supports shareholder-friendly governance .
Fixed and Performance Compensation Policy Notes (Board-wide)
| Policy Element | Summary |
|---|---|
| Annual Retainers | Paid semi-annually; committee retainers per policy table above |
| Annual Equity Grant | 50% options / 50% RSUs; one-year vest; reduced below peer 25th percentile for 2024 |
| Expenses | Reasonable travel and other expenses reimbursed |
| Equity Plan Controls | No option repricing without shareholder approval; Board/Comp Committee administer plans |
Related Policies
- Insider Trading: Prohibits pledging/margin accounts (exceptions only with committee approval); no FY2024 pledge requests by NEOs/directors .
- Clawback: Adopted 2021, revised 2023; mandates recoupment of excess performance-based compensation upon restatement; extends to certain other employees for willful misconduct .
- Equity Plan Authorization: 2014 Plan authorized; shares available and controls set; total issuable/available as of Mar 31, 2025 outlined in proxy .
Overall governance profile indicates independence, active committee engagement, and alignment mechanisms; monitoring of external commitments and continued rigorous committee processes are the main watch items for investors .