---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-21-102285"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "TWST"
cik: "0001581280"
company_name: "Twist Bioscience Corp"
filed_at: "2021-08-09T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-29T18:39:35.511900+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Twist Bioscience appoints drug discovery leader Melissa Starovasnik to board

## Summary
- Dr. Starovasnik appointed to board effective Aug 5, 2021; will receive $40k cash retainer (pro rata) and $340k in equity vesting over 3 years.
- She spent nearly 30 years at Genentech, most recently as Senior Scientific Advisor, leading protein therapeutics discovery.
- Kevin Yankton appointed principal accounting officer; previously Chief Accounting Officer at Varex Imaging; James Thorburn remains CFO.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-21-102285
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: TWST
- cik: 0001581280
- company_name: Twist Bioscience Corp
- filed_at: 2021-08-09T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1581280/000110465921102285/0001104659-21-102285-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1581280/000110465921102285/tm2124344d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-21-102285
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-21-102285.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-21-102285.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Melissa Starovasnik was elected as Director at Twist Bioscience Corp.
  - Action: elected
  - Role: Director
  source text: On August 5, 2021, the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Twist Bioscience Corporation (the “ Company ”) elected Dr. Melissa Starovasnik to the Board, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1581280/000110465921102285/0001104659-21-102285-index.htm
- Executive change
  Kevin Yankton was appointed as principal accounting officer at Twist Bioscience Corp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: principal accounting officer
  source text: On August 5, 2021, Board appointed Kevin Yankton, the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer, as principal accounting officer, effective August 5, 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1581280/000110465921102285/0001104659-21-102285-index.htm
- Executive change
  James Thorburn changed role as principal accounting officer at Twist Bioscience Corp.
  - Action: stepped down
  - Role: principal accounting officer
  source text: James Thorburn, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, previously served as principal accounting officer and will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer and principal financial officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1581280/000110465921102285/0001104659-21-102285-index.htm

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