Velarion · Company Intelligence
Compensation Brief
Fiscal year 2023 · Filings through 2024-09-26

bluebird bio (BLUE)

Fiscal year 2023 executive and director compensation, incentive-plan design, equity activity, and governance — every figure in this brief is traceable to its exact location in the company’s SEC filing — the document, the section, the page, and the table, linked directly.

$3,049,181
Andrew Obenshain total, FY2023
CEO pay percentile vs peers
CEO-to-median pay ratio
Say-on-pay support, latest vote
Companies that benchmark against BLUE
4 companies name BLUE as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses BLUE in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named BLUE in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

01

Summary Compensation Table — fiscal year 2023

Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
Andrew Obenshain$681,657$0$863,590$1,142,440$348,024$0$13,470$3,049,181
Chief Executive Officer
Richard Colvin489,8080281,050371,800187,425014,1701,344,253
Chief Medical Officer
Thomas Klima479,6150281,050371,800183,600013,4701,329,535
Chief Commercial and Operating Officer

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2023 totalFY2022 totalFY2021 totalΔ FY20222023
Andrew Obenshain$3,049,181$1,814,700+1,234,481
Richard Colvin1,344,2531,364,776−20,523
Thomas Klima1,329,5351,247,251+82,284

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

02

Equity transactions since the proxy statement was filed

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

03

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2023

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
Andrew ObenshainPRSU$863,590
Thomas KlimaOption371,800
Andrew ObenshainOption1,142,440
Richard ColvinOption371,800
Thomas KlimaPRSU281,050
Richard ColvinPRSU281,050
03b

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
Andrew Obenshain$0$0$1,142,4400.0%
Thomas Klima00371,8000.0%
Richard Colvin00371,8000.0%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

04

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2023

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
Richard ColvinRSU55,000$75,900
Thomas KlimaRSU55,00075,900
Andrew ObenshainRSU15,05920,781
Richard ColvinOption43,7506.35
Andrew ObenshainRSU27,00037,260
Andrew ObenshainRSU100,387138,534
Thomas KlimaRSU18,75025,875
Richard ColvinRSU10,03913,854
Andrew ObenshainRSU8621,190
Richard ColvinRSU555766
Andrew ObenshainRSU101,400139,932
Richard ColvinRSU22,50031,050
Andrew ObenshainRSU2,5853,567
Richard ColvinRSU2,0092,772
Andrew ObenshainOption18636.78
Andrew ObenshainOption4,75626.45
Andrew ObenshainOption16,33114.17
Andrew ObenshainOption160,88812.76
Andrew ObenshainOption48,7507.8
Andrew ObenshainOption338,0005.11
Thomas KlimaOption35,57315.5
Thomas KlimaOption15,1266.55
Richard ColvinOption2,19514.17
Thomas KlimaRSU8,25011,385
Thomas KlimaRSU25,09634,632
Richard ColvinOption12436.78
Richard ColvinOption110,0005.11
Thomas KlimaOption110,0005.11
Andrew ObenshainRSU67,60093,288
Andrew ObenshainRSU13,50018,630
Thomas KlimaOption27,0907.8
Richard ColvinRSU9,97513,766
Richard ColvinOption12,58014.99
Richard ColvinOption14,3007.8
05

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

bluebird bio's compensation program is designed to align executive interests with the drivers of growth and stockholder returns by supporting the Company's achievement of its primary business goals, while attracting and retaining employees whose talents and contributions are expected to sustain growth and drive long-term stockholder value. The Compensation Committee maintains an ongoing commitment to corporate governance principles and strong performance orientation, regularly reviewing compensation policies to ensure they are aligned with stockholder interests, business goals, and that total compensation is fair, reasonable, and competitive.

CEO STI target (% of salary)60%
CEO LTI target (% of salary)
Independent consultantAon plc (Human Capital Solutions practice)
Clawback policytrue
Anti-hedgingtrue
Anti-pledgingtrue
08

Director compensation — fiscal year 2023

DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Mark VachonIndependent · Board Chair · Audit · Compensation (Chair)$104,500$41,110$55,296$0$200,906
Elisabeth LeidermanIndependent · Audit (Chair) · Compensation71,50041,11055,2960167,906
John O. AgwunobiIndependent · Audit · Nominating/Governance (Chair)64,50041,11055,2960160,906
Najoh Tita-ReidIndependent · Compensation · Nominating/Governance57,50041,11055,2960153,906
Charlotte Jones-BurtonIndependent · Nominating/Governance50,00041,11055,2960146,406
Nick LeschlyIndependent41,11055,296096,406
Richard PaulsonIndependent · Newly elected33,50015,38816,350065,238
Michael CloonanIndependent · Newly elected00000
Andrew ObenshainEmployee director00000
09

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$45,000
Annual equity retainer
Per board meeting fee
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)10,000 / 15,000 / 10,000
Stock ownership guideline3x annual cash retainer for non-employee directors; 3x base salary for CEO
09b

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2023
Cash retainers and fees$381,500
Equity awards (grant-date value)$262,048
All other compensation$0
Total cost of the board$643,548

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

10b

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company's own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1bluebird bio2023Andrew Obenshain$681,657$863,590$1,142,440$348,024$3,049,181

Each peer's compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer's figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

11

Source register

Each figure's location is given both for the eye (section · page · table · row · column) and for a script (table/row/column index and exact character span in the filed document). Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

#SupportsDocumentFiledAccessionLocation in document
1Section 01, Andrew ObenshainDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Summary Compensation Table”. As printed: 3,049,181. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c21 · span 402787–402796
2Section 01, Richard ColvinDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Summary Compensation Table”. As printed: 1,344,253. Filing ↗machine: r6 · c21 · span 409492–409501
3Section 01, Thomas KlimaDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Summary Compensation Table”. As printed: 1,329,535. Filing ↗machine: r4 · c21 · span 406139–406148
4Section 03, Andrew Obenshain PRSUDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t28 · r2 · c4 · span 402101–402108
5Section 03, Thomas Klima OptionDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t28 · r4 · c3 · span 405328–405335
6Section 03, Andrew Obenshain OptionDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t28 · r2 · c3 · span 401870–401879
7Section 03, Richard Colvin OptionDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t28 · r6 · c3 · span 408681–408688
8Section 03, Thomas Klima PRSUDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t28 · r4 · c4 · span 405531–405538
9Section 03, Richard Colvin PRSUDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t28 · r6 · c4 · span 408884–408891
10Section 08, Mark VachonDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 200,906. Filing ↗machine: t37 · r3 · c10 · span 565912–565919
11Section 08, Elisabeth LeidermanDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 167,906. Filing ↗
12Section 08, John O. AgwunobiDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 160,906. Filing ↗
13Section 08, Najoh Tita-ReidDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 153,906. Filing ↗machine: t37 · r5 · c10 · span 568788–568795
14Section 08, Charlotte Jones-BurtonDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 146,406. Filing ↗
15Section 08, Nick LeschlyDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 96,406. Filing ↗machine: t37 · r8 · c10 · span 573271–573277
16Section 08, Richard PaulsonDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 65,238. Filing ↗machine: t37 · r7 · c10 · span 571678–571684
17Section 08, Michael CloonanDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
18Section 08, Andrew ObenshainDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
19Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed)ComputedcomputedΔ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.machine: formula: Δ = FY(n) − FY(n−1)
20Section 03b vehicle mix (computed)ComputedcomputedRSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).machine: formula: sums + PSU ratio
21Section 09b board cost (computed)ComputedcomputedCash 381,500 + equity 262,048 + all other 0 = 643,548, summed across the director compensation table rows.machine: formula: Σ = 643,548
22bluebird bio (subject), Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2024-09-260001293971-24-000049CEO total compensation as printed in bluebird bio's own proxy. As printed: 3,049,181. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c21 · span 402787–402796