Arnout Ploos van Amstel
About Arnout Ploos van Amstel
Independent director of Zura Bio Limited since November 2023, age 61, with 30+ years in life sciences across development, medical, and commercial/access leadership roles. Founder of Apaxcel Life Sciences GmbH (strategic consultant, current) and MoonLake Immunotherapeutics AG (COO Jan 2020–Feb 2022); previously led Novartis’ Global Immunology/Dermatology business unit and held executive roles at Wyeth. Holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Groningen. The Board has determined he is independent under Nasdaq standards.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis | President & Managing Director; Senior Vice President; led Global Business Unit Immunology/Dermatology | Jul 2010–Mar 2019 | Achieved portfolio growth; notable products: COSENTYX (secukinumab), XOLAIR (omalizumab) in CSU, ILARIS (canakinumab) “orphan blockbuster” |
| MoonLake Immunotherapeutics AG | Founder; Chief Operating Officer | Jan 2020–Feb 2022 | Built operations for next‑gen inflammatory disease therapies |
| Wyeth Pharmaceuticals | Executive leadership roles | Dates not disclosed | Global commercial/operational leadership experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Capacity | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apaxcel Life Sciences GmbH | Founder; Strategic Consultant | Current (founded Apr 2019) | Advises biopharma on strategies to accelerate outcomes |
Board Governance
- Independence: Determined independent by the Board (Nasdaq definition).
- Board/Committee attendance: Board met 5 times in FY2024; Audit, Compensation, and Nominating & Governance each met 4 times; each then‑serving director attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings in FY2024.
- Committees:
- Nominating & Governance Committee, member.
- Research & Development Committee, member (Neil Graham, chair).
- Leadership structure: CEO and Chair roles separated; Chair is independent (Amit Munshi). Executive sessions of independent directors are regularly scheduled, typically at each regular Board meeting.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash fees earned | $54,125 | Annual director cash retainer plus committee membership fees under the 2024 program |
| Program context | $50,000 annual cash retainer (reduced to $40,000 effective Oct 23, 2024); $6,000 Nominating & Governance member retainer; $25,000 additional cash retainer for non‑executive Chair (not applicable to Arnout) | Program terms applicable to all non‑employee directors in 2024 |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Instrument | 2024 Grant Date Fair Value (USD) | Grant Size (shares) | Vesting Schedule | Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock options | $410,206 | Notional sizing per program: initial grant 48,149 at appointment; annual grant 117,000 at annual meeting | Initial: vests over 3 anniversaries or next AGM; Annual: vests over 1 year; 10‑year term | None disclosed (director equity is time‑based; no performance targets) |
2025 policy update (for context): each eligible director receives options to purchase the lesser of 51,000 shares or options valued ≤$200,000 at initial election and at each AGM; monthly vesting over 12 months; 10‑year term; six‑month post‑termination exercise window (non‑cause/non‑death).
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed for Arnout Ploos van Amstel |
| Prior public company boards | None disclosed in proxy biography |
| Potential interlocks | Consulting via Apaxcel may interface with biopharma ecosystem; no specific Zura‑related party transactions disclosed involving Arnout |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Strategic and operational leadership across development, medical, and commercial/access in immunology and dermatology; global P&L and portfolio stewardship (Novartis).
- Company building and scaling in biotech (MoonLake COO; founder).
- Economics and international experience across US, Canada, Greece, Netherlands, Switzerland.
Equity Ownership
| Category | Amount | % of Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 184,300 shares | <1% | Includes 100,000 shares held directly and 84,300 options exercisable within 60 days of Apr 1, 2025 |
| Direct shares owned | 100,000 | <1% | Held of record |
| Options exercisable (≤60 days) | 84,300 | <1% | Included in beneficial ownership count |
| Options outstanding at 12/31/2024 | 165,149 | N/A | Director options outstanding (not all exercisable) |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited by company policy (no hedging, shorting, margin, or pledging) | N/A | Insider Trading Policy prohibits derivative transactions and pledging |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Independence and committee assignments (Nominating & Governance; R&D) align with his skills in portfolio strategy and immunology, supporting oversight of governance and R&D prioritization; attendance meets minimum thresholds.
- Alignment: Holds direct stock and vested options; director equity is time‑based without performance targets, typical for small/mid‑cap biotech boards; cash retainer reduction in late 2024 and standardized 2025 equity policy suggest disciplined director pay governance.
- Conflicts/related‑party exposure: No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Arnout; ongoing consulting via Apaxcel could pose potential perceived conflicts if advising competitors, but no such transactions are disclosed.
- Risk indicators:
- Section 16(a) late filing: one late Form 4 (filed May 23, 2024) due to administrative error — minor process red flag; company notes remediation via Form 5 filings for others.
- Hedging/pledging prohibitions mitigate alignment risks.
Insider Filings
| Item | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Late Form 4 | May 23, 2024 | One transaction filed late due to administrative error (company disclosure) |