COMPASS Pathways plc announced that Board Chair and co-founder George Goldsmith and fellow co-founder Ekaterina Malievskaia have resigned their seats on the company?s board of directors, effective March 29, 2024. David Norton, lead independent director on the Compass board of directors, will become interim chair. Dr. Malievskaia currently serves on the Innovation and Research Committee and will retire from that committee upon her resignation.

Following the departure of Mr. Goldsmith and Dr. Malievskaia from the Board, the Board will consist of two Class I directors, three Class II Directors, and three Class III directors. Neither Mr. Goldsmith's nor Dr. Malievskaia's decision to resign was the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the operations, policies or practices of the Company. Compass is running a global search for a permanent board chair, focused on recruiting a leader with a strong background in the biotechnology sector and broad strategic experience across the product lifecycle.

George and Ekaterina co-founded Compass Pathways in 2016. George served as Chief Executive Officer of the company from its founding until August 1, 2022, when Kabir Nath assumed the role. Ekaterina served as Chief Innovation Officer until she stepped down from her executive role in June 2023.

This transition is a natural evolution as Compass has matured as a public company and progresses through late-stage clinical development and into commercial preparations. David Norton is a former Company Group Chairman of Global Pharmaceuticals for Johnson & Johnson. He began his career with J&J in 1979 and held several positions across the company, including Company Group Chairman, Worldwide Commercial and Operations for the CNS/internal medicine franchise, Company Group Chairman for the pharmaceutical businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Company Group Chairman for the pharmaceutical businesses in North America.

He has been a member of the Compass board of directors since 2018, serving as lead independent director. He also serves on the board of directors of Forepont Capital.