Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Appointment of William Duke as Chief Financial Officer
On September 5, 2023, Invivyd, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of William Duke, age 51, as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective as of September 1, 2023 (the “Duke Effective Date”). On July 19, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company appointed Mr. Duke as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and designated him as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, effective as of the Duke Effective Date.
Mr. Duke joins the Company from Apexigen, Inc., where he served as Chief Financial Officer from June 2022 to August 2023 and was responsible for all areas of finance and accounting, completed multiple financings, and helped guide the company through its sale to Pyxis Oncology, Inc. From November 2019 to April 2022, Mr. Duke was Chief Financial Officer of Kaleido Biosciences, Inc., where he was responsible for all areas of finance, accounting, and investor relations, implemented capital formation strategies to fund operations, and led the successful completion of multiple financings. From June 2015 to November 2019, Mr. Duke was Chief Financial Officer of Pulmatrix, Inc., where he oversaw the company’s financial strategy, helped negotiate the company’s first product partnership, and led the successful completion of several public offerings. Prior to that, from January 2014 to June 2015, he was the Chief Financial Officer at Valeritas, Inc., where he was responsible for the strategic planning, development, and leadership of the corporate finance function. From July 2011 to December 2013, he was the Vice President, Corporate Controller at Valeritas, Inc. From January 2010 to July 2011, Mr. Duke was Senior Director of Finance at Genzyme Corporation, helping in the sale of the company to Sanofi. From May 2008 to December 2009, Mr. Duke served as Director of Finance/Accounting at Haemonetics Corporation. Mr. Duke is a certified public accountant and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Stonehill College and an M.B.A. from Bentley College.
In connection with Mr. Duke’s appointment, the Company entered into an employment agreement with him (the “Employment Agreement”). The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Duke’s employment will continue until either the Company or Mr. Duke terminates Mr. Duke’s employment in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement.
Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Duke is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $475,000 which will be reviewed at least annually and will be subject to adjustment from time to time, as determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). In addition, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Duke is entitled to receive a one-time signing bonus of $20,000 in the first payroll cycle following January 1, 2024 (the “Signing Bonus”), provided that Mr. Duke remains continuously and actively employed in good standing by the Company through and on the date on which the Signing Bonus is paid. The Signing Bonus will be earned on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Duke Effective Date and subject to potential repayment as contemplated in the Employment Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Duke is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus, which is based on the achievement of certain performance goals and objectives as reasonably determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee, calculated as a percentage of his annual base salary, and which will be determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee. Mr. Duke’s initial target annual bonus is 40% of his annual base salary in effect on January 1st of the applicable performance period. For calendar year 2023, Mr. Duke will be eligible to earn a pro-rated target bonus based on his base salary as of the Duke Effective Date.
The term of the Employment Agreement commenced on the Duke Effective Date and continues until terminated in accordance therewith. The Company may terminate the Employment Agreement at any time without cause, and Mr. Duke may terminate the Employment Agreement at any time, upon written notice. The Employment Agreement also imposes certain confidentiality and non-solicitation obligations on Mr. Duke during the term of the Employment Agreement and for a specified time thereafter.