Feng Hsiung
About Feng Hsiung
Feng Hsiung, age 50, joined Senti Biosciences’ Board in March 2025 as a Class III director and is nominated to serve through the 2028 annual meeting. He is independent under Nasdaq rules and serves on the Audit Committee. Hsiung is Founder, CIO and CEO of Acion Partners (strategic partnership with KKR), and previously was Partner and CEO (Asia) at York Capital from 2007–2014. He holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and is a Young Presidents’ Organization member; he also serves as President of Raising Investment Corporation, the holding company for his family interests in freight forwarding and contract logistics .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| York Capital | Partner; CEO (Asia); initial employee launching Asia business; co-managed York Asian Opportunities Master Fund | 2007–2014 | Led Asia buildout and co-managed regional fund |
| Acion Partners | Founder, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Executive Officer | Current | Strategic partnership with KKR; invests across industries |
| Raising Investment Corporation | President | Current | Holding company for family freight forwarding and contract logistics interests |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young Presidents’ Organization | Member | Since 2013 | Global leadership community membership |
| Raising Investment Corporation | President | Current | Family holding company role |
Board Governance
- Board classification and tenure: Class III director (with Cooperstone and Collins) whose term was up for election at the June 25, 2025 meeting; elected to serve until 2028 .
- Committee assignment: Member, Audit Committee; committee chaired by Frances D. Schulz (Audit Committee financial expert); members are Schulz, Hsiung, and Edward Mathers .
- Independence: Board determined Hsiung (and Cooperstone, Mathers, Schulz, Collins) are independent under Nasdaq listing standards .
- Board leadership: No Chairperson or lead independent director; CEO chairs board meetings; independent directors hold executive sessions .
- Attendance context: In 2024 the Board met 9 times; Audit 4; Compensation 5; Nominating 1; each director attended at least 75% of board and relevant committee meetings during their service period .
- Audit Committee oversight scope includes financial reporting, auditor oversight, related-party transaction review, risk assessment, and pre-approval of audit/non-audit services .
- Audit Committee report: Signed by Schulz (Chair), Mathers, and Hsiung on April 30, 2025, recommending inclusion of 2024 audited financials in the Annual Report .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount ($) | Frequency/Eligibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board annual cash retainer | 35,000 | Annual | Non-employee director compensation policy; payable quarterly; effective through Mar 6, 2025 and reaffirmed Mar 7, 2025 |
| Audit Committee member fee | 7,500 | Annual | For Audit Committee membership (non-chair) |
| Meeting fees | 0 | — | Company does not pay per-meeting fees |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award | Shares | Grant/Effective Date | Vesting | Exercise Price | Change-of-Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Stock Option (A&R 2022 Plan) | 43,900 | Mar 7, 2025 | 36 equal monthly installments over 3 years, subject to continued service | Closing price on grant date | Becomes fully vested and exercisable upon a Change of Control |
| Annual Stock Option (A&R 2022 Plan) | 21,950 | Annual meeting date (from 2025 onward) | Vests in full on earlier of first anniversary or next annual meeting, subject to service | Closing price on grant date | Fully vests upon Change of Control |
Notes:
- No RSUs/PSUs or performance metrics (e.g., revenue/EBITDA/TSR) are disclosed for director compensation; director equity is option-based per policy .
- Indemnification agreement standard form applies upon appointment .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Entity | Role/Relationship | Potential Interlock/Conflict Context |
|---|---|---|
| Celadon Partners SPV 24 | Not disclosed as a role; director appointment pursuant to letter agreement with Celadon Partners SPV 24 | Celadon is a 37.5% holder; appointment via investor agreement may indicate influence; Audit Committee maintains related-party oversight |
| Celadon-related transactions (GeneFab/Valere) | Board member Donald Tang is a manager of Celadon Partners, LLC; Company entered into Framework Agreement, SESA, DMSA with GeneFab/Valere (Celadon-managed) | Related-party transactions disclosed and approved; Hsiung is not a party to Item 404 transactions per appointment disclosure |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Investment leadership: Founder/CIO/CEO, Acion Partners; strategic partnership with KKR .
- Asia markets and fund management: Former York Capital Partner and CEO (Asia); launched Asia business and co-managed regional master fund .
- Governance and networks: YPO member since 2013 .
- Education: B.A., Dartmouth College .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Type | Shares/Options | Ownership % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feng Hsiung | Options exercisable within 60 days of April 28, 2025 | 3,668 | <1% | Appointed Mar 7, 2025; beneficial ownership reflects options exercisable within 60 days; no direct common shares disclosed |
| Company policy | Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | — | Insider Trading Policy prohibits hedging/derivatives and pledging; no hedging/pledging by directors reported |
Governance Assessment
- Positives:
- Independence and Audit Committee role support board oversight; Audit Committee report includes Hsiung as signatory, signaling engagement .
- Director pay structure is modest and equity-heavy (options), aligning interests with long-term shareholder value; no per-meeting fees .
- Hedging/pledging prohibitions and clawback policy for executives support governance hygiene .
- Watch items / potential red flags:
- Appointment pursuant to a letter agreement with Celadon Partners SPV 24, a 37.5% shareholder, suggests investor influence; ensure continued robust related-party oversight, especially given Celadon-linked GeneFab/Valere arrangements and a Celadon-affiliated director (Tang) .
- Board leadership concentration with CEO presiding and no lead independent director may warrant monitoring for effective independent oversight .
- Attendance and engagement:
- Board met 9 times in 2024; all directors met ≥75% attendance thresholds; Hsiung joined in 2025 and serves on the Audit Committee; ongoing monitoring of his attendance is advised .