Paul Sekhri
VEEVA SYSTEMSAbout Paul Sekhri
Paul Sekhri, age 67, has served as an independent director of Veeva Systems since 2014 and sits on the Nominating and Governance Committee. He is a longtime life sciences executive and investor, currently President and CEO of vTv Therapeutics, with prior senior roles at eGenesis, Sanofi, Teva, TPG Biotech, and Cerimon Pharmaceuticals. He holds a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Maryland and completed post‑graduate studies in clinical anatomy and neuroscience at the University of Maryland School of Medicine . The Board highlights that he is independent under NYSE rules and a member of an underrepresented community, and credits him with providing valuable perspective on emerging biotech customers .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| vTv Therapeutics Inc. | President & CEO | 2022–present | Public company operational leadership; current public board service |
| eGenesis, Inc. | President & CEO | 2019–2022 | Biotech leadership; transplantation focus |
| Lycera Corp. | President & CEO | 2015–2019 | Autoimmune disease focus; executive leadership |
| Highline Therapeutics | Operating Partner | 2016–2017 | Biotech incubator; venture operating role |
| Sanofi S.A. | SVP, Integrated Care | 2014–2015 | Pharma executive role |
| Teva Pharmaceutical Industries | Group EVP, Global BD & Chief Strategy Officer | 2013–2014 | Global BD and strategy leadership |
| TPG Biotech | Operating Partner; Head, Biotech Ops Group | 2009–2013 | PE operating role; portfolio operations |
| Cerimon Pharmaceuticals | President & CEO | 2004–2009 | Pharma leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| vTv Therapeutics Inc. (Public) | Director; President & CEO | 2022–present | Current external public company board; small‑cap clinical stage |
| Compugen Ltd. (Public) | Director | 2017–present | Current external public company board |
| Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Public) | Director | 2020–2024 | Prior external public board |
| Axcella Health Inc. (Public) | Director | 2022–2023 | Prior external public board |
| Ipsen S.A. (Public) | Director | 2018–2023 | Prior external public board |
| Pharming Group N.V. (Public) | Director | 2015–2023 | Prior external public board |
| BiomX, Inc. (Public) | Director | 2020–2022 | Prior external public board |
| Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. (Public) | Director | 2017–2020 | Prior external public board |
Board Governance
- Committee assignment: Nominating and Governance Committee (member; not chair) .
- Independence: Board determined independence under NYSE listing standards; Veeva’s committee charters limit membership to independent directors .
- Attendance: “No director attended fewer than 75%” of Board and committee meetings in FY2025; Sekhri attended every Board and Nominating & Governance Committee meeting in FY2025 .
- Meetings: FY2025 meetings—Board (4), Nominating & Governance (4) .
- Executive sessions: Regular executive sessions of independent directors are held; Board separates Chair and CEO roles (Chair: Gordon Ritter) .
- Overboarding responsiveness: 49% “for” vote on Sekhri’s 2024 reelection; he offered to resign; Board unanimously declined (Sekhri recused). He reduced public company boards to three total (including Veeva) to align with Veeva and ISS policies; Board conducted shareholder outreach (~40% of outstanding shares) to address concerns .
- Conflict oversight: Nominating & Governance oversees independence, conflicts, and corporate opportunities; Audit Committee pre‑approves significant related party transactions .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $50,000 | Paid quarterly in arrears |
| Meeting fees | None disclosed | No per‑meeting fees; expenses reimbursed |
| Committee compensation | RSUs valued at $10,000 (member) | Governance Committee member RSU; chair would be $20,000 RSUs |
| Chair/Lead Independent premium | Not applicable | Additional $40,000 RSUs for non‑executive chair; Sekhri is not chair |
- FY2025 reported compensation: Fees earned $50,000; Stock awards $235,043; Total $285,043 .
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Equity | Grant Value | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSUs | $225,000 | Quarterly over one year | Granted at annual meeting; time‑based vesting |
| Committee RSUs (Gov) | $10,000 | Quarterly over one year | Member (not chair) |
- No director stock options; no disclosed performance metrics tied to director equity—RSUs are time‑based (alignment via ongoing vesting rather than financial KPIs) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Potential Interlock Area | Detail | Governance Mitigant |
|---|---|---|
| CEO of vTv; Director at Compugen (biotech customers in Veeva’s served industry) | Ongoing leadership/board roles at life sciences companies relevant to Veeva’s customer base | Nominating & Governance oversight of conflicts; Audit Committee approval required for material related party transactions; none involving Sekhri disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Life sciences operational leadership and technical knowledge; public company board experience .
- Contributes unique perspective on emerging biotech customers—highlighted by Board in overboarding discussion .
- Education: B.S. Zoology (University of Maryland); post‑graduate studies in clinical anatomy and neuroscience (University of Maryland School of Medicine) .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (03/31/2025) | 16,340 shares | “Less than 1%” of outstanding; disclosed in security ownership table |
| RSUs outstanding (01/31/2025) | 657 units | Director RSUs outstanding at FY2025 year‑end per compensation table footnote |
| Ownership guidelines | 3× annual cash retainer for directors | All directors in compliance as of 03/31/2025 |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for directors under Insider Trading Policy | 10b5‑1 plan pre‑clearance and blackout restrictions apply |
Insider Trades (Form 4, FY2024–FY2025)
Source: Insider-trades skill; SEC Form 4 links included in each row. These records show recurring quarterly RSU releases and annual RSU awards consistent with Veeva’s director compensation plan .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with deep life sciences operating expertise; high attendance; active member of Nominating & Governance; Board asserts his contributions were material to governance enhancements (e.g., declassification, proxy access, special meeting rights, cybersecurity committee) and stakeholder-aligned PBC oversight . His equity is time‑based RSU grants aligned with ongoing service, and he meets stock ownership guidelines; hedging/pledging prohibited, supporting alignment .
- Red Flags and Mitigants: 2024 re‑election support was ~49% due to overboarding concerns; Sekhri promptly offered to resign, Board declined after review. He reduced total public boards to three (including Veeva) to align with policies, and the Board conducted outreach to shareholders covering ~40% of outstanding shares to address concerns—mitigating overboarding risk while retaining sector expertise .
- Conflicts/Related Party Exposure: No related party transactions involving Sekhri are disclosed; the Audit Committee pre‑approves significant related party transactions, and the Nominating & Governance Committee oversees conflicts and corporate opportunities .
Overall, Sekhri’s governance profile reflects high engagement and sector-specific value for Veeva’s customer base, with overboarding concerns addressed through board count reduction and shareholder engagement; compensation is standard for Veeva directors and time‑vested RSUs, with ownership guideline compliance and strict anti‑hedging/pledging policies supporting alignment .