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Posted 25 August, 2022

Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. appointed James Kastenmayer as new CEO

Nasdaq:AGLE appointed new Chief Executive Officer James Kastenmayer in a 8-K filed on 25 August, 2022.


  Effective as of the Transition Date, the Board appointed James Kastenmayer, the Company's General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, to succeed Dr. Quinn as Interim Chief Executive Officer.  

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Overview of Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Health Care/Life Sciences • Biotechnology
Spyre Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, which engages in the development of next-generation human enzyme therapeutics as disruptive solutions for rare and other high-burden diseases. Its product, Pegzilarginase, is in a Phase 3 pivotal trial for the treatment of Arginase 1 Deficiency. The company was founded by George Georgiou and David G. Lowe on December 16, 2013 and is headquartered in Waltham, MA.
Market Cap
$1.26B
View Company Details
Relevant filing section
Item 5.02. 
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. 


Chief Executive Officer Transition and Separation Agreement 

On August 24, 2022, Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") and Anthony Quinn, the President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company, entered into a Transition and Separation Agreement (the "Transition Agreement") following the mutual agreement between the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and Dr. Quinn regarding his departure from his current positions with the Company and the Board's plan to commence a search for a successor. Pursuant to the Transition Agreement, Dr. Quinn ceased his role as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 24, 2022 (the "CEO Transition Date"). Dr. Quinn also resigned as a director of the Board, effective as of August 23, 2022. From the CEO Transition Date until September 1, 2022 (the "Transition Date"), Dr. Quinn will continue as an employee of the Company in the role as R&D Advisor. This mutual agreement was not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to its operations, policies or practices. The Board has initiated a search for a permanent CEO. 

The Company will also enter into a consulting agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") with Dr. Quinn, pursuant to which Dr. Quinn has agreed to serve as a non-employee consultant to the Company until September 1, 2023 (such transition term end date, the "Consultancy End Date"). 

Subject to Dr. Quinn's execution of a general release of claims, the terms of the Transition Agreement and the terms of the Consulting Agreement, Dr. Quinn will be entitled to receive the following benefits: (i) a severance payment of $882,000, equal to eighteen (18) months of his annual salary; (ii) a lump sum bonus payment of $294,000; and (iii) the amount of COBRA premiums he would be required to pay to maintain group healthcare coverage as in effect on the Transition Date for eighteen (18) months. In exchange for providing consulting services to the Company through the Consultancy End Date, Dr. Quinn also will be entitled to receive the following benefits: (x) continued vesting in his outstanding option awards with respect to the number of shares that would have vested if Dr. Quinn had remained in service through the Consultancy End Date; and (y) acceleration of vesting of Dr. Quinn's outstanding option awards with respect to the number of shares that would have vested if Dr. Quinn had remained in service through an additional twelve (12) months beyond the Consultancy End Date. The foregoing description of the Transition Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Transition Agreement, a copy of which will be filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ending September 30, 2022. 

Interim Chief Executive Officer Appointment 

Effective as of the Transition Date, the Board appointed James Kastenmayer, the Company's General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, to succeed Dr. Quinn as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Kastenmayer will also remain General Counsel and Corporate Secretary while serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Kastenmayer, age 50, has served as the Company's General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since July 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kastenmayer was general counsel at Viela Bio from January 2020 to March 2021, when the company was acquired by Horizon Therapeutics. Mr. Kastenmayer served in roles of increasing responsibility at AstraZeneca PLC from May 2012 to December 2019, including global legal director, oncology, and senior patent director. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kastenmayer served as IP counsel at MedImmune, LLC from April 2010 to May 2012, and as an Associate at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, an IP boutique firm from October 2005 to April 2010. Mr. Kastenmayer earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, a Ph.D. in biochemistry and cell & molecular biology from Michigan State University and a B.A. in biology from the University of Virginia. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Kastenmayer and any other persons, pursuant to which he was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer principal executive officer, no family relationships among any of the Company's directors or executive officers and Mr. Kastenmayer and he has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. 

Mr. Kastenmayer is party to an employment agreement (the "Employment Agreement") with the Company pursuant to which, if Mr. Kastenmayer is terminated without "cause" or resigns for "good reason" (as such terms are defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Kastenmayer will be entitled to (i) a lump-sum payment equal to 12 months of his base salary; (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of his annual target bonus; (iii) payment of COBRA premiums for 12 months to maintain group healthcare coverage as in effect on the date of his termination; and (iv) accelerated vesting of Mr. Kastenmayer's outstanding equity awards (including such awards subject to performance criteria) as if an additional 12 months of vesting had occurred for any outstanding and unvested awards as of the date of his termination, provided, however, that the vesting of any performance-based awards shall be as if all applicable performance criteria were achieved at target levels during such 12-month period. In connection with a "change in control" (as defined in the Employment Agreement), if Mr. Kastenmayer is terminated within 12 months following a "change in control" or within three months preceding a "change in control" for any reason other than "cause," or resigns for "good reason," Mr. Kastenmayer will be entitled to (i) a lump-sum payment equal to 12 months of his base salary; (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of his annual target bonus; (iii) payment of COBRA premiums for up to 12 months following termination; and (iv) accelerated vesting of Mr. Kastenmayer's 


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outstanding equity awards (including such awards subject to performance criteria) such that 100% of such equity awards shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of his termination, provided, however, that the vesting of any performance-based awards shall be as if all applicable performance criteria were achieved at target levels, except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement. Additionally, in connection with Mr. Kastenmayer's appointment as Interim Chief Executive Officer, on August 23, 2022, the Board approved certain adjustments to Mr. Kastenmayer's compensation terms for such position, which includes an increase in base salary to $588,000 and an increase in target bonus amount to 50%. The adjustments to Mr. Kastenmayer's compensation in relation to his appointment as Interim CEO will be prorated for time served. 

Mr. Kastenmayer is also party to the Company's standard form of indemnification agreement. The form of the amended and restated indemnification agreement was previously filed by the Company as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 9, 2018 and incorporated by reference herein. 

Appointment of Chief Business Officer 

On August 23, 2022, the Board appointed Michael Hanley to the position of the Company's Chief Business Officer ("CBO"). Mr. Hanley previously served as the Company's Chief Commercial Officer since October 2019. Biographical information for Mr. Hanley is available in the Company's proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21, 2022, in connection with the Company's 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, such information being incorporated herein by reference. 

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Hanley and any other persons, pursuant to which he was appointed as CBO of the Company, no family relationships among any of the Company's directors or executive officers and Mr. Hanley and he has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.