---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-25-040247"
form_type: "8-K/A"
ticker: "GERN"
cik: "0000886744"
company_name: "GERON CORP"
filed_at: "2025-03-17T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-24T17:21:52.351984+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Geron appoints Dawn C. Bir as Interim CEO, approves $750K salary and 180K option award

## Summary
- Dr. Scarlett departed as President, CEO and Chairman on March 10; stays as employee through March 31.
- Dawn C. Bir, Board member since 2019, named Interim President & CEO effective March 10, 2025.
- Bir receives annual base salary of $750,000; option to purchase 180,000 shares under 2018 EIP.
- Option vests on earlier of first anniversary of 2025 Annual Meeting date or next annual meeting.
- Bir not eligible for incentive bonus or severance plan during interim role.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-25-040247
- form_type: 8-K/A
- ticker: GERN
- cik: 0000886744
- company_name: GERON CORP
- filed_at: 2025-03-17T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000095017025040247/0000950170-25-040247-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000095017025040247/gern-20250310.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-25-040247
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-25-040247.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-25-040247.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  John A. Scarlett resigned as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at GERON CORP.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
  source text: Effective March 10, 2025, the service of John A. Scarlett, M.D. as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Geron Corporation (the “Company” or “Geron”) concluded and, in connection therewith, Dr. Scarlett resigned from the Board.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000095017025040247/0000950170-25-040247-index.htm
- Executive change
  Elizabeth G. O'Farrell was appointed as Chair of the Board at GERON CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chair of the Board
  source text: In addition, effective March 10, 2025, Ms. Elizabeth G. O’Farrell, currently the Lead Independent Director of the Board, was appointed Chair of the Board.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000095017025040247/0000950170-25-040247-index.htm
- Executive change
  Dawn C. Bir was appointed as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at GERON CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Also, effective March 10, 2025, Dawn C. Bir, a current member of the Board, was appointed as the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Geron
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886744/000095017025040247/0000950170-25-040247-index.htm

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