Aleksandra Rizo
Syndax PharmaceuticalsAbout Aleksandra Rizo
Independent director (Class III) at Syndax Pharmaceuticals since May 2024; age 50 as of April 1, 2025; currently President & Chief Executive Officer and board member at Vividion Therapeutics. Prior roles include EVP & Chief Medical Officer at Geron (2019–2022), Strategy & Clinical Lead at Celgene (2018–2019), and senior oncology development leadership at Janssen R&D (2008–2018). Medical degree from University Ss. Cyril and Methodius (Skopje); PhDs in Stem Cell Biology from University of Groningen and University of Tokyo .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geron Corporation | Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer | 2019–2022 | Led clinical development and medical strategy |
| Celgene Corporation | Strategy & Clinical Lead | 2018–2019 | Strategic and clinical program leadership |
| Janssen Research & Development | Senior Director; Compound Development Team Leader (myeloid) and Global Clinical Leader | 2008–2018 | Led oncology drug development across portfolios |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vividion Therapeutics | President & Chief Executive Officer; Director | Joined 2023; CEO role ongoing | Board member; joined in 2023 as President, Head of R&D; elevated to CEO |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined all directors except the CEO are independent; Rizo is independent under Nasdaq/SEC rules .
- Attendance: Board met 4 times in 2024; no director attended less than 75%; exceptions noted only for Legault (missed one Audit Committee) and Katkin (missed one Nominating & Governance); all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors met in 4 executive sessions in 2024; Board Chair presides .
- Committee assignment: Science & Technology Committee member; committee met 4 times in 2024; chair is Dr. Huber .
| Committee | Role | 2024 Meetings | Chair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science & Technology | Member | 4 | Martin H. Huber, M.D. |
Fixed Compensation
- Non-employee director cash fees: $33,876 (prorated, as she joined in May 2024) .
- Equity (deferred RSUs) grant fair value: $500,386 (2024) .
- Total 2024 director compensation: $534,262 .
- Policy structure: Annual base retainer $45,644 in 2024 ($50,000 in 2025); committee member retainers: Audit $11,410, Compensation $8,558, Science & Technology $8,558, Nominating & Governance $5,706 (all increased in 2025); Board Chair retainer $79,876 ($85,000 in 2025) .
| Component | 2024 Amount |
|---|---|
| Fees earned or paid in cash ($) | $33,876 |
| Stock awards ($) | $500,386 |
| Total ($) | $534,262 |
| Policy Element | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual base retainer (non-employee director) | $45,644 | $50,000 |
| Board Chair additional retainer | $79,876 | $85,000 |
| Committee member retainer – Audit | $11,410 | $12,500 |
| Committee member retainer – Compensation | $8,558 | $10,000 |
| Committee member retainer – Science & Technology | $8,558 | $10,000 |
| Committee member retainer – Nominating & Governance | $5,706 | $7,500 |
| Annual equity – Deferred RSUs (non-Chair) | 17,000 Deferred RSUs | 25,000 Deferred RSUs |
| Annual equity – Deferred RSUs (Board Chair) | 34,000 Deferred RSUs | 50,000 Deferred RSUs |
Performance Compensation
- Initial director option grant at appointment: 35,000 options; vest monthly over three years .
- Annual director Deferred RSUs: vest on one-year anniversary; deferred until separation, death, disability, or change in control .
- No performance metrics disclosed for director compensation (director equity is time-based; performance metrics in proxy apply to executive PRSUs, not directors) .
| Equity Instrument | Grant Size | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock options (initial, at appointment) | 35,000 | Monthly over 3 years | None of the other non-employee directors received options in 2024 |
| Deferred RSUs (annual) | Policy: 17,000 in 2024; 25,000 in 2025 | 1-year cliff; settlement deferred | Granted on same date as executive annual awards |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Public/Private | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vividion Therapeutics | Director | Not disclosed as public in proxy | Also serves as CEO |
- Related-party transactions: None disclosed since January 1, 2024; related-party transactions require approval and Rizo’s compensation is covered separately in director compensation .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Oncology drug development leadership across Janssen, Celgene, Geron; extensive clinical strategy and portfolio leadership .
- Medical and scientific credentials: M.D. (internal medicine/hematology residency), dual PhDs in Stem Cell Biology (Groningen and Tokyo) .
- Current operator experience as CEO of a therapeutics company (Vividion) .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Shares of common stock beneficially owned | 9,722 (options exercisable within 60 days of March 7, 2025) |
| Options outstanding (year-end 2024) | 35,000 |
| Ownership % of shares outstanding | <1% (“*”) |
| Shares pledged as collateral | Prohibited by insider trading policy |
- Hedging/pledging: Directors are prohibited from hedging, pledging, short sales, options or derivatives in Company securities .
- Rule 10b5-1 plans: Directors may adopt trading plans; must comply with insider trading policy .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; aligned committee assignment (Science & Technology) leveraging oncology R&D expertise; attendance at or above 75% threshold; robust director equity participation fostering long-term alignment; prohibition on hedging/pledging; executive sessions of independent directors .
- Compensation mix: Predominantly equity-based (2024 cash fees $33,876 vs. stock awards $500,386), indicating strong pay-for-alignment structure for directors .
- Potential conflicts: Concurrent CEO role at Vividion could present conflict risk if any business dealings emerge; however, no related-party transactions disclosed since Jan 1, 2024, and Board annually reviews independence and conflicts under formal policy .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed regarding related-party transactions, hedging/pledging, or attendance shortfalls; monitor for any future inter-company transactions involving Vividion and Syndax (policy requires prior approval) .