bluebird bio, Inc. appointed Andrew Obenshain as new CEO

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On November 4, 2021, in connection with the Separation, Daniel Lynch, Sarah Glickman, Ramy Ibrahim, Denice Torres, Marcela Maus and William Sellers each resigned from bluebird bio's board of directors (the "Board").

There are no disagreements between any of Mr. Lynch, Ms. Glickman, Dr. Ibrahim, Ms. Torres, Dr. Maus, and Dr. Sellers and bluebird bio on any matter relating to bluebird bio's operations, policies or practices.


Additionally, on November 4, 2021, in connection with the Separation, Nick Leschly, William Baird and Philip Gregory resigned as bluebird bio's chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief scientific officer, respectively. 

In connection with and effective as of the Separation, Andrew Obenshain, 48, was appointed as bluebird bio's president, chief executive officer and principal executive officer and member of the Board. Mr. Obenshain has served as bluebird bio's President, Severe Genetic Diseases since August 2020 and its senior vice president, head of Europe since 2016. Prior to that, from September 2015 to September 2016, Mr. Obenshain was the general manager of France and Benelux at Shire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and from 2007 to 2013, he held roles of increasing responsibility at Genzyme. Mr. Obenshain received his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and his B.A. in genetics, cell and developmental biology from Dartmouth College. 

There are no (i) family relationships, as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K, between Mr. Obenshain and any of bluebird bio's executive officers or directors, or any person nominated to become a director or executive officer, (ii) arrangements or understandings between Mr. Obenshain and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Obenshain was appointed as chief executive officer of bluebird bio or (iii) transactions in which Mr. Obenshain has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. In connection with his appointment as bluebird bio's chief executive officer and principal executive officer, Mr. Obenshain's annual base salary was increased from $550,000 to $625,000, and his annual target bonus was increased to 60% of his base salary.

In connection with and effective as of the Separation, Gina Consylman, 49, was appointed as bluebird bio's chief financial officer and principal financial officer. Prior to joining bluebird bio, Ms. Consylman served as senior vice president, chief financial officer of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., since November 2017. From 2014 to 2017, Ms. Consylman held roles of increasing responsibility at Ironwood. Ms. Consylman holds a B.S. in accounting from Johnson & Wales University and a M.S. in taxation from Bentley University.

There are no (i) family relationships, as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K, between Ms. Consylman and any of bluebird bio's executive officers or directors, or any person nominated to become a director or executive officer, (ii) arrangements or understandings between Ms. Consylman and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Consylman was appointed as chief financial officer of bluebird bio or (iii) transactions in which Ms. Consylman has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with and effective as of the Separation, Jason Cole, 49, was appointed as bluebird bio's chief business officer. Mr. Cole has served as bluebird bio's chief operating and legal officer since February 2019. Prior to this role, Mr. Cole served as bluebird bio's chief legal officer since March 2016. Mr. Cole received an A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

There are no (i) family relationships, as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K, between Mr. Cole and any of bluebird bio's executive officers or directors, or any person nominated to become a director or executive officer, (ii) arrangements or understandings between Mr. Cole and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Cole was appointed as chief business officer of bluebird bio or (iii) transactions in which Mr. Cole has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with and effective as of the Separation, Jessica Whitten, 45, was appointed as bluebird bio's chief accounting officer and principal accounting officer. Ms. Whitten has served as bluebird bio's vice president of accounting and global controller since February 2021. Prior to this role, Ms. Whitten served as bluebird bio's vice president of internal audit since November 2019. Prior to that, from 2017 to 2019, Ms. Whitten was vice president of internal audit with American Renal Associates and from 2015 through 2017 Ms. Whitten was with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as assistant vice president and assistant general auditor. Ms. Whitten received a B.A. in accounting and English from Bentley University.

There are no (i) family relationships, as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K, between Ms. Whitten and any of bluebird bio's executive officers or directors, or any person nominated to become a director or executive officer, (ii) arrangements or understandings between Ms. Whitten and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Whitten was appointed as chief accounting officer of bluebird bio or (iii) transactions in which Ms. Whitten has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. In connection with her appointment as bluebird 


bio's chief accounting officer and principal accounting officer, Ms. Whitten's annual base salary was increased from $290,000 to $300,000.