Leadership

Christian Itin joined Autolus as Chief Executive Officer in 2016 and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2014 to 2021.

From 2016 to 2019 Christian was on the board of Kuros Biosciences (SIX:KURN) serving as chairman from 2016 to 2018. Prior to Kuros he served as executive chairman of Cytos Biotechnology Ltd from 2012 to 2016 until its merger with Kuros Biosurgery, forming Kuros Biosciences.

Previously, Christian was President and Chief Executive Officer of Micromet Inc., a formerly Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company which was acquired in March 2012 by Amgen, Inc. for USD 1.2 billion. Micromet pioneered T-cell engaging antibodies and with blinatumomab developed the first approved product in this field.

After serving in senior management roles at Micromet, Christian was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2004. Prior to joining Micromet in 1999, Christian co-founded Zyomyx, Inc., a protein chip company based in Hayward, CA, USA.

Christian has served as a non-executive director of Innate Pharma SA, a global, clinical-stage biotechnology since May 2025. Christian also served as non-executive director on the Board of Kymab, Ltd, a privately held UK company from 2012 until its acquisition by Sanofi in 2021 for USD 1.1Bn plus milestones.

He received a diploma in biology and holds a PhD in cell biology summa cum laude from the University of Basel, Switzerland. In addition, he also performed post-doctoral research at the Biocenter of Basel University and at Stanford University School of Medicine, CA, USA.

Mike Bonney was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Autolus in April 2024 and has over 30 years of biotech and pharmaceutical expertise. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Cubist Pharmaceuticals from 2003 until 2014. Under his leadership, Cubist grew from a small micro-cap to the world’s leading antibiotic company and was acquired by Merck early in 2015 for $9.5 billion. Prior to Cubist, Mike was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Biogen where he built the company’s commercial infrastructure for the launch of its first product. Before joining Biogen, he spent 11 years at Zeneca Pharmaceuticals in a range of commercial, operating, and strategic roles, ending his career there as National Business Director.

He is currently a director of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and chair of Dunad Therapeutics and Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Mr. Bonney has served as a director with many companies previously including Celgene, Kaleido Biosciences, Magenta Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sarepta Therapeutics and Syros Pharmaceuticals.

He received his undergraduate degree in economics from Bates College.

John Berriman has significant experience in the biotech industry at board and operational level and as a strategic consultant and served as Autolus's Lead Independent Director between June 2018 and September 2021. He is currently Chairman of Depixus SAS, ReNeuron Group plc and Autifony Therapeutics Ltd.

He is a past Chairman of Confo Therapeutics, Heptares Therapeutics Ltd (sold to Sosei in February 2015) and Algeta ASA (sold to Bayer AG in 2014) and was a Director of Micromet Inc. until its sale to Amgen in 2012. Previously he was a Director of Abingworth Management, an international healthcare venture capital firm, where he was involved in founding, financing and serving as a director of several biotechnology companies in Europe and the USA, many of which obtained listings on public stock exchanges.

Prior to that, John spent 14 years with Celltech Group plc and was a member of its Board when it listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1994.

He has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from the London Business School.

Cynthia M. Butitta is a seasoned financial and operational executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in both the biotechnology and high-technology industries.

Most recently, Ms. Butitta served as Chief Operating Officer of Kite Pharma, where she played an instrumental role leading up to Kite Pharma’s acquisition by Gilead Sciences for approximately $11.9 billion in cash. From 2014 to 2016, Ms. Butitta served as Kite Pharma’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. During her tenure at Kite Pharma, Ms. Butitta was responsible for securing over $1 billion in equity financing and oversaw the rapid growth of the organization.

Prior to joining Kite, Ms. Butitta served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NextWave Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired in 2012 by Pfizer, Inc. for $700 million. Previously, Ms. Butitta served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Telik Inc., a public biotechnology company focused on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer, prior to its acquisition by MabVax Therapeutics, Inc.

Prior to this, Ms. Butitta served as Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer for Connetics, Inc., a public biotechnology company. She has served as a director of publicly held biopharmaceutical companies UroGen Pharma Ltd. since October 2017, and Olema Pharmaceuticals Inc. since August 2020, and of privately held Century Therapeutics since February 2021.

Ms. Butitta received a B.S. degree with honors in Business and Accounting from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, and a M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Linda Bain serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Mariana Oncology, Inc. Prior to that she was Chief Financial Officer of Codiak BioSciences. Ms. Bain joined Codiak BioSciences from Avalanche Biotechnologies, where, as Chief Financial Officer, she led a successful IPO and follow-on financing. She previously served as Vice President of Finance and Business Operations at bluebird bio, where her tenure included a Series D financing and IPO.

Ms. Bain has held senior roles at Genzyme Corporation, including Vice President of Finance, Global Manufacturing and Operations and Vice President of Finance of Genzyme Genetics, where she was a member of the team that divested the business unit to LabCorp for $925 million. Earlier in her career, she served in senior finance roles at Fidelity Investments and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and as an auditor at Deloitte & Touche.

She currently serves on the Board Arvinas, Inc. and Hemab Therapeutics and previously served on the Board of VBI Vaccines, Inc.

Ms. Bain received her B.S in Accounting and Business Administration and an Honors Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of the Free State, South Africa. She is a Certified Public Accountant.

William D. Young is a Senior Advisor to the Blackstone Life Sciences group. Mr. Young became a Venture Partner with Clarus (now known as Blackstone Life Sciences) in 2010 after serving as CEO of Monogram Biosciences, a leader in personalized medicine, from 1999 through to the sale of the company to LabCorp in 2009.

Prior to Monogram he was at Genentech since 1980 at positions of increasing responsibility, including COO, responsible for all of the biotechnology company's development, operations and commercial functions. Prior to Genentech, Mr. Young was at Eli Lilly and Company for fourteen years.

Mr. Young currently serves on the Board of Directors of Nanostring Technologies (Chairman), Theravance Biopharma and Praxis Precision Medicine. Previously he was Chairman of the Board of Biogen (NASDAQ: BIIB) and served on the Board of Directors of BioMarin Pharmaceutical and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Young received his Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University, his MBA from Indiana University and an honorary doctorate in engineering from Purdue University. In 1993 he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his leadership in research, development and manufacturing of recombinant proteins using recombinant DNA technology.

Dr. Iannone joined the Autolus Board of Directors in June 2023. He currently serves as Executive Vice President, Global Head of Research & Development of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. Prior to joining Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Iannone served as Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Immunomedics, Inc. He previously served as Senior Vice President and Head of Immuno-oncology, Global Medicines Development, and the Global Products Vice President at AstraZeneca plc and held several management roles at Merck Co., Inc., culminating in his role as Executive Director and Section Head of Oncology Clinical Development. Before joining industry, Dr. Iannone was Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Dr. Iannone has also held senior governance and government health advisory roles. He currently serves on the Board of iTeos Therapeutics and previously served on the Board of Jounce Therapeutics (acquired by Concentra Biosciences in 2023 for $96.46 million). He has served on the Cancer Steering Committee of the Biomarkers Consortium/Foundation for the National Institutes of Health since 2011, and currently sits on the executive committee of Biomarkers Consortium. Dr. Iannone received an M.D. from Yale University and an M.S.C.E. from University of Pennsylvania. He completed his Residency and Chief Residency in Pediatrics and a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Leiderman has more than 15 years of expertise in business development, strategy, and finance in the life sciences industry. She most recently served as Chief Financial Officer & Chief Business Officer at Atsena Therapeutics. Prior to joining Atsena, she was Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Development for Decibel Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel gene therapeutics for restoration of hearing loss and balance disorders. Dr. Leiderman also served as Chief Business Officer for Complexa, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on life-threatening fibrosis and inflammatory diseases and Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Development at Fortress Biotech, where she was responsible for key business growth initiatives, including business development, strategy, financial analysis and capital raising. She spent 10 years as a healthcare investment banker advising global corporate clients and their boards. Her significant transaction experience includes mergers and acquisitions, other strategic transactions, initial public offerings, and other equity and debt financings in the healthcare sector. She  began her career in medical affairs at AstraZeneca in their neuroscience division. Dr. Leiderman is a member of the board of directors of bluebird bio, Inc. She holds an M.D. from the American Medical Program Tel Aviv University, an M.B.A from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from The University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Azelby brings more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical leadership and commercial experience to Autolus’s Board. Most recently, Mr. Azelby served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Eliem Therapeutics Inc. Prior to Eliem, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. from June 2018 until its acquisition by H. Lundbeck A/S in 2019. Mr. Azelby previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer of Juno Therapeutics, Inc. from 2015 through its acquisition by Celgene in 2018. Earlier in his 15 years at Amgen, Mr. Azelby served in commercial roles including Vice President and General Manager of Amgen Oncology, Vice President of Oncology Sales, Vice President of the Commercial Effectiveness Unit and General Manager of Amgen Netherlands. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at ADC Therapeutics SA and has also served on the Board of Directors of Chinook Therapeutics Inc, Clovis Oncology Inc., Eliem Therapeutics Inc., Alder BioPharmaceuticals Inc., Cascadian Therapeutics, Inc., and Immunomedics, Inc. He holds a BA in Economics and Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Ravi Rao currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of Sitryx, having joined the company in 2022. He was previously Chief Medical Officer at Oxford Biomedica and Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer at Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, where he led the development of several medicines in rare diseases across immunology and hematology. Before that, he worked at Roche Genentech and GlaxoSmithKline.

He serves as a Board Member for DBV Technologies, and a Venture Partner for SV Health Investors.

Ravi is an accredited rheumatologist and was an academic physician-scientist at Imperial College (London). He is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians, London and an Honorary Member of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine.

He received his MB. BChir from Cambridge University and his Ph.D. in vascular biology from Imperial College, completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School.

Mr. Richardson joined the Autolus Board of Directors in December 2025. Mr. Richardson previously served as Chief Strategy Officer and member of the Management Board of BioNTech during his tenure from September 2018 to September 2025. In addition to leading BioNTech’s Corporate Development and Strategy, Capital Markets, and Investor Relations functions, Mr. Richardson played a central role in BioNTech’s global expansion and transition to a commercial stage company, including its Initial Public Offering, subsequent private placement and follow-on equity financings, and multiple strategic business development and M&A transactions.

He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Instadeep Ltd., a leading global technology company active in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning, following BioNTech’s acquisition in 2023. Prior to BioNTech, Mr. Richardson was an Executive Director in J.P. Morgan’s Global Healthcare Investment Banking team in London, where he worked on a wide range of strategic transactions from 2011 to 2018.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Richardson served as a life sciences management consultant and health economist. He was the recipient of the 2004 Robert. R. Bosch Fellowship and a recipient of the 2018 Eisenhower Zhi-Xing Fellow in China.

Mr. Richardson holds an International MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, an M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, and a B.S. from the University of Kansas.