Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium – Celyad Oncology SA (Euronext & Nasdaq: CYAD) (the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapies for cancer, today announced that the Board of Directors has named Hilde Windels as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. Ms. Windels has been a member of the Board of Directors since May 2018. Ms. Windels serves on multiple boards in the life sciences industry and has been an executive in the sector from 1999 through 2021, serving primarily as Chief Financial Officer and, over the last five years, as Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Windels succeeds Michel Lussier who has been named Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Lussier is a co-founder of the Company and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2007. Mr. Lussier succeeds Filippo Petti who has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Directors to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Petti will serve as a consultant to the Company through July 31, 2022 to ensure an effective transition while the Board of Directors commences a search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.
“I would like to thank Filippo for his significant contribution to Celyad Oncology. Under his leadership, the Company has become a key player in the CAR T cell therapy landscape, providing a strong foundation on which Celyad Oncology can enter its next strategic phase,” commented Michel Lussier, Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Hilde Windels, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors added, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our gratitude for Filippo’s dedication and efforts. We wish him all the success in his future endeavors as we look forward to continuing the execution of Celyad Oncology’s strategy of building a dynamic biotechnology company in the field of allogeneic CAR T.”
