---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000886744-25-000054"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GERN"
cik: "0000886744"
company_name: "GERON CORP"
filed_at: "2025-08-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-17T20:17:21.117933+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Geron appoints Harout Semerjian as President and CEO, effective Aug 7, 2025

## Summary
- Harout Semerjian named President and CEO; replaces Dawn C. Bir, who remains on the Board.
- Base salary $800k, annual bonus target 70% of base; receives inducement option for 11M shares.
- Stock option vests over 4 years; 7M shares vest 12.5% at 6 months, remainder monthly; 4M shares vest 25% at 1 year, remainder monthly.
- Severance plan amended: CEO gets 150% of target bonus on change-of-control termination.
- 2018 Inducement Plan increased by 11M shares for future inducement grants.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000886744-25-000054
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GERN
- cik: 0000886744
- company_name: GERON CORP
- filed_at: 2025-08-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000088674425000054/0000886744-25-000054-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000088674425000054/gern-20250801.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886744-25-000054
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886744-25-000054.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886744-25-000054.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.