Company: PGEN
Filing Date: 2025-05-06
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0001140361-25-017535
Chunk: 16

Company: PRECIGEN, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-05-06
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 16
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 if they are to be separate, whether the Chairman should be selected from the non-employee directors or be an employee. Currently, the roles are separate. Mr. Kirk currently serves as Executive Chairman and Dr. Sabzevari serves as CEO. Prior to Dr. Sabzevari assuming the role of CEO in January 2020 and Mr. Kirk becoming Executive Chairman, Mr. Kirk had served as Chairman of the Board since February 2008 and CEO since April 2009. We believe that separating the Executive Chairman and CEO roles at this time allows us to efficiently develop and implement corporate strategy consistent with the Board’s oversight role while also facilitating strong day-to-day executive leadership. The Board believes that Mr. Kirk is well situated to serve as Executive Chairman because his unique and extensive experience and deep understanding of our business as well as his broad business experience as CEO of, and significant investor in, multiple successful biotech companies enable him to deliver strategic insight on key issues, to serve as a valuable bridge between the Board and management, and to provide valuable leadership experience. Mr. Kirk’s Executive Chairman responsibilities include the following:

| • | advising and supporting the CEO on governance matters; |

| • | serving as a liaison between the Board and senior management; |

| • | acting as a source of institutional knowledge; |

| • | together with the Lead Independent Director, and with input from the non-management and independent Board members, preparing the Board’s agenda; |

| • | chairing and guiding discussion at Board meetings; and |

| • | performing such other duties and responsibilities as may be delegated to the Executive Chairman by the Board from time to time. |

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Mr. Turley currently serves as our Lead Independent Director. The Board established the position of Lead Independent Director in the Corporate Governance Guidelines to serve as a principal liaison between the independent directors and the Executive Chairman and the CEO as well as to coordinate the activities of the other independent directors. The Lead Independent Director is in frequent contact with the Executive Chairman and the CEO and is regularly consulted on material matters. We currently maintain a significant majority of independent directors (Mr. Kirk and Dr. Sabzevari are the only non-independent directors). The Lead Independent Director is elected by the independent directors and ensures that the Board operates independently of management, and that directors and shareholders have an independent leadership contact. The responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director of the Board include the following:

| • | presiding over meetings of the non-management and independent Board members and, as appropriate, provide prompt