Alexis Borisy
About Alexis Borisy
Alexis Borisy (age 53) is Chairman of Tango Therapeutics’ board and an independent Class III director, serving since 2017 and as Chairman since August 2021. He holds an A.B. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago and an A.M. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University, and is a veteran biotech company builder and investor with deep board experience across oncology-focused companies .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQRx, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer & Chairman | 2019–2023 | Led strategy until acquisition by Revolution Medicines |
| Third Rock Ventures | Partner | 2010–2019 | Venture leadership backing multiple life science launches |
| Blueprint Medicines | Interim CEO; Director | Interim 2013–2014; Director since 2011 | Helped steer precision oncology growth |
| Foundation Medicine | Interim CEO; Director | 2009–2011; Director 2009–2018 | Guided to eventual acquisition by Roche |
| OPKO Health; Magenta Therapeutics | Director (prior) | Various | Prior public board experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curie.Bio | Co‑founder & Operating Chairman | Since 2022 | Venture platform for biotech creation |
| Nextech Invest | Director & Chairman | Since 2022 | Venture governance; Nextech is a Tango 5%+ holder affiliate in a related-party case |
| Relay Therapeutics (RLAY) | Director | Current | Network ties in oncology drug development |
| Revolution Medicines (RVMD) | Director | Current | Interlock with Tango via clinical collaboration |
| Blueprint Medicines (BPMC) | Director | Current | Precision oncology oversight |
Board Governance
- Structure: Chair and CEO roles are separated (Chair: Borisy; CEO/Director: Dr. Barbara Weber), enabling independent board leadership and clear risk oversight delineation .
- Independence: Board determined all directors except the CEO are independent under Nasdaq and SEC rules; Borisy is independent .
- Committees and roles: Borisy is a member of the Audit Committee; he is Chairman of the Board (non-executive) .
- Attendance: In 2024 the board met four times; all directors attended at least 75% of board and applicable committee meetings; five directors attended the June 5, 2024 annual meeting .
| Committee | 2024 Members | Chair | Meetings (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit | Lesley Ann Calhoun; Kanishka Pothula; Alexis Borisy | Lesley Ann Calhoun | 4 |
| Compensation | Malte Peters; Mace Rothenberg; John Ketchum | Malte Peters | 3 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance | Mace Rothenberg; Kanishka Pothula; Lesley Ann Calhoun | Mace Rothenberg | 2 |
- Risk oversight: Audit reviews financial, compliance, cybersecurity, and related-party risk; Compensation monitors pay-risk; Nominating oversees ESG; annual enterprise risk assessment presented to Audit .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Policy Terms | 2024 Amount (Borisy) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board Retainer (cash) | $40,000 | $40,000 (included in total fees) |
| Non‑Executive Chair Retainer (cash) | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Audit Committee Member Fee (cash) | $7,500 per member | $7,500 |
| Total Cash Fees Earned | Sum of above | $77,500 |
- 2024 policy updates: Committee chair/member cash retainers increased in May 2024; annual director equity grants raised to 37,500 options and 6,250 RSUs to align with peer medians .
Performance Compensation
Directors receive long-term equity aligned to shareholder value (no performance metrics for directors; grants vest with service):
- Initial board appointment: 60,000 options (36 monthly vesting over 3 years) + 10,000 RSUs (3 equal annual tranches) .
- Annual grants: 37,500 options (12 monthly vesting over 1 year) + 6,250 RSUs (vest by next AGM or first anniversary) .
- Change-in-control: Unvested options and RSUs for non-employee directors vest in full upon a change in control .
| Equity Award Type | 2024 Grant to Borisy (Grant-date Fair Value) | Typical Vesting |
|---|---|---|
| RSUs | $46,313 | Annual RSUs vest fully by next AGM/1 year |
| Stock Options | $194,588 | Annual options vest monthly over 12 months |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to Tango | Interlock/Transaction | Governance Handling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolution Medicines (RVMD) | Borisy is a director | Nov 2024 clinical trial collaboration and supply (RAS inhibitors) | Approved by non-interested Audit Committee members |
| Sesame Therapeutics | Borisy and Weber are directors/equityholders; Nextech (Borisy-affiliated) holds equity | June 2024 license of preclinical know-how; $100,000 upfront; up to $25.9M milestones; low single-digit royalties | Because two Audit Committee members had material interests, referred to full board; approved by non-interested directors |
| Nextech Invest | Borisy is Director & Chairman; Nextech is a 5%+ Tango holder | Affiliate ties noted in related party context | Disclosure and committee/board approval processes applied |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Deep oncology and biotech company-building experience (Foundation Medicine; Blueprint Medicines; EQRx) and venture leadership (Third Rock, Curie.Bio, Nextech) .
- Scientific training in chemistry from University of Chicago and Harvard; extensive board experience across precision oncology platforms .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Owned | Options Exercisable within 60 days | RSUs Outstanding | % of Outstanding Shares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexis Borisy | 5,000 common shares | 235,838 options | 6,250 RSUs | <1% |
- Aggregate director equity positions at 12/31/2024 show Borisy held 238,963 options outstanding and 6,250 RSUs, supporting long-term alignment; vesting accelerates upon change-of-control for non-employee directors .
- Trading and hedging policy: Company prohibits short sales and derivative transactions; section addresses risks of margin and pledging, with focus on compliance with securities laws .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Independent chair and clear committee structure support oversight; Borisy’s Audit Committee membership plus extensive sector expertise are positives for risk monitoring and capital allocation .
- Independence & attendance: Independent status, with boardwide ≥75% attendance in 2024, indicates engagement .
- Alignment: Cash retainer balanced with annual equity grants (options and RSUs) and standard vesting; 2024 equity grant sizes aligned to peer medians .
- Conflicts & red flags: Multiple related-party transactions (Sesame Therapeutics; Revolution Medicines) involve entities where Borisy has roles—these are conflict risk signals. Mitigations included referral to non-interested directors and Audit/board approval, which is a governance positive, though continued monitoring is warranted given Audit Committee members had material interests in at least one case .
- Stock practices: Explicit prohibition of short sales and derivatives reduces misalignment risk; pledging risk is acknowledged in policy text—no pledging disclosures noted for Borisy in proxy; continued surveillance advisable .
