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Posted 04 January, 2024

NovoCure Ltd appointed new CEO

CEO Change detected for ticker Nasdaq:NVCR in a 8-K filed on 04 January, 2024.


  Effective January 1, 2024, Pritesh Shah, Chief Growth Officer of the Company, resigned his position as an executive officer of the Company and agreed to become a Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, a non-executive position.  

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Overview of NovoCure Ltd
Health Care/Life Sciences • Medical Equipment/Supplies
NovoCure Ltd. is an oncology company which engages in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of Optune for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. Its platform is called the Tumor Treating Field which uses electric fields tuned to specific frequencies to disrupt solid tumor cancer cell division. The company was founded by Yoram Palti in 2000 and is headquartered in St. Helier, Jersey.
Market Cap
$1.78B
View Company Details
Relevant filing section
Item 5.02(e) Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers


Frank Leonard Employment Agreement

Effective January 1, 2024, the Company appointed Frank Leonard, Executive Vice President and President, Novocure Oncology. In connection with his appointment, Mr. Leonard has entered into a new employment agreement with a subsidiary of the Company dated January 4, 2024 (the "Leonard Employment Agreement"), and effective January 1, 2024 replaces his existing employment agreement, dated as of May 3, 2023. Under the Leonard Employment Agreement, Mr. Leonard will receive an annual base salary of $525,000 per year. In addition, Mr. Leonard is eligible to receive a discretionary annual cash bonus having a target of 60% of his annual base salary based on achievement of performance goals set by Chief Executive Officer or the Board (or committee thereof) in their sole discretion, and further subject to his continued employment through the payment date.


Mr. Leonard is generally eligible to participate in Company's 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan as determined by the Board (or committee thereof). Further, Mr. Leonard is eligible to participate in the employee benefits generally provided to similarly-situated executive employees, subject to the satisfaction of any eligibility requirements.


Upon termination of Mr. Leonard's employment by the Company without cause (but for reasons other than death or disability) or resignation by Mr. Leonard for good reason (each as defined in the Leonard Employment Agreement, a "Qualifying Termination") prior to a change in control, subject to Mr. Leonard's execution without revocation of a release of claims, he will be eligible to receive 75% of his annual base salary, payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company's payroll practices over a period of nine (9) months from the date of the Qualifying Termination.


Upon a Qualifying Termination within 12 months following a change in control, and subject to Mr. Leonard's execution without revocation of a release of claims, Mr. Leonard will be eligible to receive an aggregate amount equal to 150% of his annual base salary plus target annual bonus, , payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company's payroll practices over a period of 18 months from the date of the Qualifying Termination. Additionally, any stock options or other equity awards held by Mr. Leonard will become fully vested on the date of such termination.


Pursuant to the Leonard Employment Agreement, Mr. Leonard is subject to perpetual non-disparagement covenants, as well as confidentiality, non-compete and employee, customer and supplier non-solicit covenants applicable during his employment and for nine months thereafter.


The foregoing description of the Leonard Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Leonard Employment Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this report as Exhibit 10.1.


There are no family relationships between Mr. Leonard and any director or executive officer of the Company. There are no relationships or related person transactions between Mr. Leonard and the Company that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.


Pritesh Shah Resignation as an Executive Officer and New Employment Agreement

Effective January 1, 2024, Pritesh Shah, Chief Growth Officer of the Company, resigned his position as an executive officer of the Company and agreed to become a Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, a non-executive position. In connection with his appointment, Mr. Shah has entered into a new employment agreement dated January 4, 2024 with a subsidiary of the Company (the "Shah Employment Agreement"), to replace his existing employment agreement, dated as of July 25, 2018. The Shah Employment Agreement is effective as of January 1, 2024 and terminates and his employment with the Company will end on June 30, 2025 (the "End Date"). Under the Shah Employment Agreement, Mr. Shah will receive an annual base salary of $500,000 per year through June 30, 2024 and $120,000 per year from July 1, 2024 through the remainder of the term. Mr. Shah will not be eligible to receive or participate in any cash-based bonus plan, program or arrangement and will not be eligible to participate in Company's 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (or such other equity-based long-term incentive compensation plan, program or arrangement generally made available to similarly situated employees) (the "Plan"); however any existing grants will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Further, Mr. Shah is eligible to participate in other the employee benefits generally provided to similarly-situated non-executive employees, subject to the satisfaction of any eligibility requirements.


Upon termination of Mr. Shah's employment by the Company without cause (but for reasons other than death or disability) or resignation by Mr. Shah for good reason (each as defined in the Shah Employment Agreement, a "Qualifying Termination") within 12 months of a change in control, subject to Mr. Shah's execution without revocation of a release of claims, he will be 


eligible to receive ) an aggregate amount equal to the product of (a) one hundred and fifty (150%) of his annual base salary and (b) a fraction equal to the number of days from the date of the Qualifying Termination through the End Date divided by 546 (the number of days from the Effective Date through the End Date), payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company's payroll practices over a period from the Qualifying Termination through the End Date. Additionally, any stock options or other equity awards held by Mr. Shah will become fully vested on the date of such termination.


Pursuant to the Shah Employment Agreement, Mr. Shah is subject to perpetual non-disparagement covenants, as well as confidentiality, non-compete and employee, customer and supplier non-solicit covenants applicable during his employment and for nine months thereafter.


The foregoing description of the Shah Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Shah Employment Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this report as Exhibit 10.2.


There are no family relationships between Mr. Shah and any director or executive officer of the Company. There are no relationships or related person transactions between Mr. Shah and the Company that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.