Robert Werner
Twist BioscienceAbout Robert Werner
Robert F. Werner, age 51, has served as Twist Bioscience’s Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since May 22, 2023. He is a CPA with a Master of Accountancy and B.S. in Accounting from Brigham Young University and previously led corporate and technical accounting at several growth-stage companies, including Invitae and Proteus Digital Health . During his tenure to date, Twist’s FY2024 revenue grew 28% to $313M and gross profit increased 48% to $133M, while reported net income was -$280.7M and cumulative TSR for 2024 reflected $59.47 on an initial $100 investment, framing the operating and equity context for executive incentives .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invitae, Inc. | Chief Accounting Officer & Principal Accounting Officer | May 2020–May 2023 | Led accounting functions as revenue scaled from $68M to $516M; built accounting capabilities across revenue, corporate, equity admin, external reporting, internal audit . |
| Invitae, Inc. | Corporate Controller | Sep 2017–May 2020 | Expanded controllership scope supporting rapid growth . |
| Proteus Digital Health | VP Finance & Corporate Controller | Feb 2015–Sep 2017 | Oversaw corporate finance and controllership for digital medicine platform . |
| CardioDx, Inc. | Corporate Controller & Principal Accounting Officer | Mar 2012–Feb 2015 | Led accounting and reporting for molecular diagnostics company . |
| Bloom Energy | Corporate Controller | Jun 2008–Mar 2012 | Corporate controllership for energy technology company . |
| Spansion, Inc. | Finance roles of increasing responsibility | Sep 2003–May 2008 | Progressive finance responsibilities following EY audit background . |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $400,000 (initial) | Set at appointment as CAO . |
| One-time Bonus | $100,000 (FY2023) | Signing/first-year bonus per appointment terms . |
| Ongoing Target Bonus % | — | Not disclosed for CAO in referenced filings . |
Performance Compensation
- No performance share units or option awards were disclosed for Werner at appointment; his equity is time-based RSUs (see Equity Ownership & Alignment) .
- Company-wide executive PRSU metrics (FY2025 revenue 70% weight; FY2025 ending cash balance 30%) apply to NEO grants, not to Werner per disclosures .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grant Type & Size | 30,000 RSUs granted at hire . |
| Grant Date | May 22, 2023 (effective May 22; appointment announced May 23) . |
| Vesting Schedule | Four-year vest with one-year cliff; subsequent vesting thereafter (time-based) . |
| Options Outstanding | None disclosed at hire . |
| Beneficial Ownership | Not listed among NEOs/directors in the beneficial ownership table . |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited by Insider Trading Compliance Program; no pledging/margining allowed (limited exceptions) . |
| Stock Ownership Guidelines | Company maintains guidelines; CEO 3x salary, other NEOs 1x salary—CAO-specific requirement not disclosed . |
| Clawback | Incentive compensation subject to recovery under Compensation Recovery Policy . |
Employment Terms
- Appointment: Chief Accounting Officer and principal accounting officer effective May 22, 2023 .
- Compensation at hire: $400,000 base; $100,000 FY2023 bonus; 30,000 RSUs vesting over four years with one-year cliff .
- Severance/COC: CAO-specific severance terms not disclosed; equity awards are governed by the Company’s equity plan. Under the Amended and Restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (effective Feb 5, 2025 if approved), awards accelerate upon change-in-control if not assumed, or accelerate at termination without cause/good reason within 24 months post-COC if assumed; performance awards deemed achieved at target for acceleration scenarios .
- Officer Exculpation: Proposed Charter amendment adds officer exculpation (duty of care) under Delaware law, covering officers including CAO, if approved by shareholders .
Investment Implications
- Retention: The one-year cliff and multi-year RSU vesting create ongoing unvested equity, aligning Werner with shareholder value over time and reducing near-term exit incentive; absence of options lowers volatility-driven risk-taking .
- Selling Pressure: Time-based RSU vesting can create periodic supply; trading is constrained by blackout windows and 10b5-1 plans, with hedging/pledging prohibited, mitigating misalignment risk .
- Pay-for-Performance: Werner’s disclosed package is primarily fixed cash plus time-based equity; unlike NEO PRSUs tied to revenue/cash metrics, his incentives are less explicitly linked to performance KPIs, implying moderate alignment primarily via share price .
- Governance/Legal: Officer exculpation (if adopted) may reduce personal liability exposure, potentially aiding executive retention amid a litigious environment, while clawback and trading policies enforce accountability .
- Company Context: Strong FY2024 revenue/gross profit growth alongside negative net income and depressed TSR underscores continued focus on profitability and controls—areas where a seasoned CAO can add value to execution and financial rigor .