Sera Prognostics Appoints New CFO; Current CFO to Become Consultant

What Happened

• Sera Prognostics, Inc. announced on Aug 19, 2026 (8‑K) that its Board appointed Scott Gleason as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer effective Aug 31, 2026. The appointment was disclosed Aug 14, 2026 and announced by press release. Mr. Gleason (age 47) has ~25 years of finance and diagnostics experience and most recently served in senior finance and investor relations roles at Neogen, NX Prenatal, LarmorBio, OraSure and Myriad Genetics. Current CFO Austin Aerts will step down from the CFO/Treasurer role on Aug 31, 2026 and will enter a consulting arrangement with the company.

Key Details

• Scott Gleason compensation and equity: $400,000 annual base salary; annual target bonus 40% of base (pro‑rated for 2026); initial equity award target value $500,000 (50% RSUs / 50% stock options) vesting over four years.
• Severance/termination for Gleason: if terminated without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason, nine months of base pay and nine months of COBRA subsidy (subject to separation agreement). If termination occurs within 3 months before or 12 months after a Change in Control, he gets 12 months' base pay lump sum, a lump‑sum target bonus, 12 months COBRA subsidy, and full acceleration of unvested equity (performance awards at target). Employment includes one‑year post‑employment non‑compete/non‑solicit and standard IP, confidentiality and indemnification terms.
• Austin Aerts departure terms: stepping down not due to disagreement; under his March 13, 2026 agreement he will receive nine months continued salary totaling $354,921.75 and nine months of continued health coverage (or until new coverage starts). He will have accelerated vesting equal to 37.5% of outstanding unvested awards granted before Jan 1, 2026 (performance awards at target), subject to a separation release.
• Consulting agreement for Aerts: effective Sept 8, 2026 for 12 months at $375/hour on an as‑needed basis; his options and RSUs continue to vest during consulting and vested/unexercised options will be exercisable for three months after the consulting term ends.

Why It Matters

• Leadership change: Investors should note a planned CFO transition with a seasoned diagnostics/IR executive replacing the current CFO; management continuity is supported by the consulting arrangement with the outgoing CFO.
• Financial impact considerations: New CFO’s compensation (cash and equity) and severance/Change‑in‑Control protections are disclosed and may affect future share dilution and near‑term cash compensation. The outgoing CFO’s severance and consulting fees are modest and defined, limiting immediate cash exposure.
• Governance and continuity: The filing shows an orderly, board‑approved succession and includes standard restrictive covenants (non‑compete, confidentiality) that may matter for operational continuity and retention of financial leadership.