An van Es-Johansson
SavaraAbout An van Es-Johansson
Independent director since December 2019; age 65; M.D. from Erasmus University, Rotterdam. Medical/scientific executive with rare disease and global pharma experience; currently serves on Audit and Compensation Committees at Savara. The Board has determined she is independent under Nasdaq standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlzeCure Pharma | Chief Medical Officer & Head of Development | Sep 2018 – Mar 2021 | Led development in neurology |
| Sobi (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum) | VP & Head EMENAR Medical Affairs for Specialty Care & Partner Products; prior roles 2005–2018 | Mar 2013 – Jan 2018 (and 2005–2018 broader tenure) | Rare disease medical affairs leadership across EMEA/North America |
| Roche; Eli Lilly; Active Biotech; BioStratum | Leadership positions | Prior to 2005 | Pharma/biotech operating roles |
| Uppsala Bio | Scientific Advisory Board member | 2004 – 2016 | External scientific oversight |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Since/Through | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTV) | Director | Jan 2020 – present | Shared board with SVRA director Richard J. Hawkins |
| Lumos Pharma, Inc. | Director | Feb 2021 – Dec 2024 (acquired) | Concluded upon acquisition |
| Agendia BV | Director | 2019 – Jun 2024 | Molecular diagnostics board service |
| Sinfonia Pharma | Senior Advisor | Mar 2021 – Dec 2024 | Neurology-focused advisory |
Board Governance
- Committees: Audit (member); Compensation (member). Audit Committee chaired by David A. Ramsay; members include van Es‑Johansson and Richard J. Hawkins. Compensation Committee chaired by Nevan Elam; members include Joseph S. McCracken and van Es‑Johansson .
- Independence: All directors except CEO Matthew Pauls are independent under Nasdaq/SEC rules .
- Attendance: In 2024, the Board met 5 times; Audit 4; Compensation 2; each director attended ≥75% of aggregate meetings of Board and committees on which they served .
- Lead Independent Director: Joseph S. McCracken; independent directors hold executive sessions at least annually .
- Hedging/pledging: Directors prohibited from hedging, pledging, and margin purchases of company securities .
- Related-party transactions: None requiring disclosure since Jan 1, 2023 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount (USD) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Board annual cash retainer | $40,000 | Policy |
| Audit Committee member fee | $9,000 | 2024 member fee |
| Compensation Committee member fee | $6,500 | 2024 member fee |
| Total cash fees earned (reported) | $55,500 | Director comp table (van Es‑Johansson) |
Notes:
- 2025 committee fees increased to: Audit Chair $20,000/member $10,000; Compensation Chair $14,000/member $7,000; Nominating Chair $10,000/member $5,000 .
Performance Compensation
| Grant Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual director grant) | Dec 12, 2024 | 40,000 | $134,000 | Vest in full one year after grant (Dec 12, 2025) |
| Stock awards (total reported 2024) | — | — | $134,000 | Reflects RSU grant |
- Structure: Director equity is time-based RSUs; no performance conditions disclosed for directors .
- Equity program administered under 2024 Omnibus Incentive Plan; RSUs have no exercise price .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| External Company | Role | Interlock | Governance Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (PSTV) | Director | Richard J. Hawkins (SVRA director) also serves on PSTV’s board | Information flow interlock across boards; monitor for potential overlap in strategic discussions; no related-party transactions disclosed |
| Lumos Pharma, Inc. | Former Director | — | Tenure ended upon acquisition in Dec 2024 |
| Agendia BV | Former Director | — | Ended June 2024 |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Medical/scientific expertise: M.D.; extensive medical affairs and development leadership; rare disease focus .
- Global strategy and operations experience across pharma/biotech (Roche, Lilly, Sobi) .
- Public company governance: service on multiple public boards (PSTV; prior LUMO) .
- Skills matrix alignment: Medical/scientific background; industry experience; public company governance .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Outstanding | Components/Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| An van Es‑Johansson | 154,500 | <1% | Includes 132,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options or vesting of RSUs within 60 days of Apr 7, 2025 record date |
| Unvested RSUs (as of Dec 31, 2024) | 40,000 | — | Annual director grant; unvested at year-end |
| Options held (as of Dec 31, 2024) | 132,000 | — | Total director options outstanding |
- Pledging/hedging: Prohibited by company policy; enhances alignment .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Independent; dual committee membership (Audit, Compensation) reflects trust in financial oversight and human capital governance; attendance met ≥75% threshold; active participation via Compensation Committee Report signatory with peers .
- Pay structure & alignment: Balanced cash retainer plus meaningful equity RSUs; 2024 total director compensation for van Es‑Johansson $189,500; equity is time-based, encouraging long-term alignment without performance metric gaming .
- Conflicts & related-party exposure: No related-party transactions; hedging/pledging barred; note interlock with PSTV alongside another SVRA director—monitor, but no disclosed conflicts .
- Shareholder signals: Strong “say‑on‑pay” support for executive compensation (95% in 2024) indicates positive governance sentiment; clawback policy in place since 2023; independent compensation consultant (Aon) with no conflicts reported .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed regarding attendance shortfalls, related-party transactions, hedging/pledging, or option repricing. Potential interlock risk via PSTV board overlap merits ongoing monitoring .