directors of Vigil Neuroscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIGL), Volastra Therapeutics, Inc., and Souffle Therapeutics, Inc. He was previously a board observer of Oyster Point Pharma, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: OYST), Dyne Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DYN) and Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRO), and a board member of Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KYTX) and Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRAX) from 2018 to 2022. He received a B.S. with Honors in Biological Sciences and an M.S. in Biology from Stanford University, where he conducted biomedical research in the lab of Dr. Helen Blau at Stanford Medical School. Mr. Vitorovic received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. The Company believes Mr. Vitorovic is qualified to serve on its board of directors because of his deep expertise in life sciences research and investing, as well as his extensive experience in new company formation and operations.
Departure of Executive Officers
Immediately prior to the Merger, Erik Ostrowski, Steven Avruch, Azadeh Golipour, Ph.D. and Essra Ridha, M.D., MRCP, FFPM resigned from all of their offices with AVROBIO and all of its subsidiaries, if applicable, including, with respect to Mr. Ostrowski, as AVROBIO’s President, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer).
Appointment of Executive Officers
On June 20, 2024, the Company’s board of directors appointed Alise Reicin, M.D. as the Chief Executive Officer and principal executive officer, Daniel Lochner as the Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, Christian Cortis, Ph.D. as the Chief Operating Officer, Peter McNamara, Ph.D. as the Chief Scientific Officer, Marcella K. Ruddy, M.D. as the Chief Medical Officer, and Marc Schwabish, Ph.D. as the Chief Business Officer.
There are no family relationships among any of the newly appointed executive officers. None of the newly appointed executive officers has a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Each of the newly appointed executive officers’ biographical information is set forth below.
Alise Reicin, M.D. Dr. Reicin’s biographical information is disclosed in the section above under the heading “Appointment of Directors.”
Daniel Lochner, age 42, has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since completion of the Merger. Mr. Lochner was previously appointed Tectonic’s Chief Financial Officer in June 2024. Prior to joining Tectonic, Mr. Lochner served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer for the Eye Care Division of Viatris Inc., a global healthcare company, from January 2023 to April 2024. Prior to Viatris, Mr. Lochner was the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer of Oyster Point Pharma, Inc., a biotechnology company that was acquired by Viatris in January 2023, from July 2019 to January 2023 where he led a successful initial public offering, other equity and debt financings, the transition to a commercial-stage company and the acquisition to Viatris. Previously, Mr. Lochner was a Managing Director within the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs & Co., where he served as a lead equity portfolio manager and healthcare investor for various fund strategies. Mr. Lochner joined the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs & Co. in 2005 as an equity investor, a position he maintained during his tenure at the firm. Mr. Lochner received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Richmond and an Executive M.B.A. from Columbia University.
Christian Cortis, Ph.D., age 56, has served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer since completion of the Merger. Dr. Cortis was previously appointed Tectonic’s Chief Operating Officer in August 2020, and since then, also served in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer until closing of the Merger. He was named as Tectonic’s Chief Financial Officer in March 2024. Prior to that, Dr. Cortis served as Tectonic’s Interim CEO from August 2019 to August 2020. Prior to joining Tectonic, Dr. Cortis held positions of increasing responsibility at Agenus, Inc. from 2015 to 2019, where he most recently served as the Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Finance. Dr. Cortis’ experience also includes earlier roles as Head of Business Development for Synta Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and as Principal with Advanced Technology Ventures where he oversaw and participated in investment transactions into private companies in the biotech and healthcare sector. In addition, Dr. Cortis was a member of the board of directors of OpenEye Scientific Software from November 2015 to August 2022 until its acquisition by Cadence Design Systems, Inc. in 2022. Dr. Cortis earned a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics from McGill University and a M.Sc. in Applied Physics from Columbia University. Dr. Cortis earned his Ph.D in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Chemistry from Columbia University.
II-13