---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-23-004177"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "GERN"
cik: "0000886744"
company_name: "GERON CORP"
filed_at: "2023-02-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-19T03:47:04.390614+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Director Karin Eastham to retire from Geron board; CEO and COO bonus targets raised

## Summary
- Karin Eastham, Class III director, will retire effective May 31, 2023, after 13 years; not standing for re-election.
- CEO John Scarlett's annual bonus target increased from 60% to 65% of base salary, effective Jan 1, 2023.
- COO Andrew Grethlein's bonus target increased from 45% to 50% of base salary, effective Jan 1, 2023.
- Eastham's departure is not due to any disagreement; she cited imetelstat's positive Phase 3 IMerge results.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-23-004177
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: GERN
- cik: 0000886744
- company_name: GERON CORP
- filed_at: 2023-02-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000095017023004177/0000950170-23-004177-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000095017023004177/gern-20230221.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-004177
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-004177.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-004177.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Karin Eastham retired as Director at GERON CORP.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: Director
  source text: On February 22, 2023, Karin Eastham, a Class III member of the Company’s Board, notified the Board of her retirement from the Company’s Board after 13 years of service on the Company’s Board and imetelstat’s achievement of positive top-line results in the IMerge Phase 3 trial in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000095017023004177/0000950170-23-004177-index.htm

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