Soren Bo Christiansen
About Soren Bo Christiansen
Independent director of Sharps Technology (STSS). Joined the Board in April 2018; served as Chairman from December 2018 (Co‑Chairman 2021–July 2023, Chairman effective August 2023), and was replaced as non‑executive Chairman when Paul Danner became Executive Chairman on June 30, 2025 . Age 69 as of the 2024 proxy; medical degree from University of Copenhagen; 30‑year career at Merck & Co. with senior leadership roles across vaccines and international markets .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merck & Co., Inc. | Sr. VP, Merck Vaccines (Global Commercial); President Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa; President Europe, Middle East, Africa & Canada | 30 years (dates not individually specified) | Led global/commercial vaccines and multi‑region P&L leadership |
| Sharps Technology | CEO | April 2019 – Sept 2021 | Transitioned back to Board; governance continuity |
| Sharps Technology | Chairman/Co‑Chairman | Dec 2018; Co‑Chairman 2021–July 2023; Chairman Aug 2023 – June 30, 2025 | Board leadership; succeeded by Executive Chairman effective June 30, 2025 |
External Roles
No other public company board service disclosed in Sharps filings for Dr. Christiansen .
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined Dr. Christiansen is independent under Nasdaq rules .
- Committee memberships and chair roles (current 2025 structure):
- Audit Committee: Member; chair is Timothy Ruemler (effective June 30, 2025) .
- Compensation Committee: Member (effective June 30, 2025) .
- Nominating & Governance Committee: Chair (effective June 30, 2025) .
- Attendance and engagement:
- Board meetings: 4 in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings .
- Committee meeting counts in 2024: Audit (4), Compensation (1), Nominating (1) .
- Anti‑hedging/pledging: Company prohibits short sales, pledging, and options transactions in Company stock for directors and insiders .
- Clawback policy: Adopted (SEC/Nasdaq compliant) covering executive incentive compensation; supports governance rigor though director compensation is primarily cash/equity .
Committee assignments timeline
| Committee | Role | Effective Date | 2024 Meeting Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit | Member | By Sept 23, 2025; chair Ruemler as of Jun 30, 2025 | 4 |
| Compensation | Member | Effective Jun 30, 2025 | 1 |
| Nominating & Governance | Chair | Effective Jun 30, 2025 | 1 |
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Annual Retainer (Cash) | Committee/Chair Fees (Cash) | Meeting Fees (Cash) | Total Cash | Option Awards (Fair Value) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $48,000 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | $48,000 | $109,711 | $157,711 |
| 2024 | $48,000 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | $48,000 | $15,190 | $63,190 |
Notes:
- Filings provide actual amounts by component (Fees Earned; Option Awards) but do not disclose explicit fee schedules for committee membership or chair roles; no meeting fees disclosed .
Performance Compensation
No director‑specific performance metrics (e.g., revenue/EBITDA/TSR targets) tied to director pay disclosed. Equity awards are granted under shareholder‑approved plans; the company’s 2024 Equity Incentive Plan permits performance share awards generally, but individual director PSU/metric structures are not disclosed .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Organization | Role | Overlap/Interlock |
|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Education: MD, University of Copenhagen .
- Domain expertise: Pharmaceuticals and vaccines; senior commercial and multi‑region leadership at Merck; board governance experience at STSS .
- Board qualifications: Independent; contributes healthcare industry and commercial strategy perspective .
Equity Ownership
| As‑of Date | Beneficially Owned Shares | Includes Options (Exercisable ≤60 days) | Ownership % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2024 | 26,367 | 19,224 options | 1.5% |
| Jan 29, 2025 | 26,558 | 19,416 options | <1% |
| Sept 9, 2025 | 20,089 | 20,065 options | <1% |
- Anti‑hedging/pledging policy applies to directors (positive alignment signal) .
- Section 16 compliance: Directors/officers timely filed in 2024; 2025 note indicates Alice Zhang’s Form 3 pending—no exceptions cited for Dr. Christiansen .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Independence affirmed; robust committee participation (member of Audit and Compensation; chair of Nominating & Governance), positioning him to influence oversight of financial reporting, pay, and board composition .
- Consistent meeting attendance thresholds met; committees functioning with documented meeting cadence .
- Pay mix balanced toward modest cash retainer with equity options, fostering alignment; anti‑hedging/pledging policy strengthens alignment .
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Watch items / potential red flags:
- Related‑party proximity at company level: Strategic Advisor Warrants issued to Sol Markets, controlled by Alice Zhang’s brother, creates governance sensitivity; while not tied to Dr. Christiansen, Compensation/Nominating oversight must vigilantly manage conflicts .
- Director fee schedules and ownership guidelines not disclosed; absence of explicit director ownership policies limits external assessment of “skin‑in‑the‑game” beyond reported beneficial holdings .
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Overall: Dr. Christiansen’s healthcare/pharma leadership background and independent status, combined with active committee roles (including chairing Nominating & Governance), support board effectiveness. Continued transparency on director ownership guidelines and rigorous oversight of related‑party matters will be important to investor confidence .