Vertex names Jonathan Poole as next CFO, effective January 2027

Vertex Pharmaceuticals disclosed in an 8-K that on August 27, 2026, the company appointed Jonathan Poole as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2027.¹

The move splits duties currently held by one executive. Charles F. Wagner, Jr., who currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating & Financial Officer, will give up the CFO title once Poole's appointment takes effect, but he will continue as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.¹

Poole, age 51, is a longtime Vertex finance executive. He has held the role of Senior Vice President, Finance at the company since March 2020.¹ Before that, he was CFO of Evelo Biosciences from March 2018 to March 2020, and CFO of Genocea Biosciences from April 2014 to March 2018.¹ Earlier still, he held finance and corporate development roles, including Senior Vice President of Finance at Shire plc.¹ On the board side, Poole has been a director and audit committee member at Acadia Pharmaceuticals since March 2026, and he previously sat on the board of Codiak Biosciences, where he chaired the audit committee.¹ He holds a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from Durham University and an M.B.A. from London Business School.¹

Under the new employment agreement, Poole's base salary will be $750,000 with a target annual bonus of 90% of base salary, effective January 1, 2027.¹ The agreement also outlines severance terms covering termination without cause or resignation for good reason, entitling Poole to 100% of base salary and target bonus for the termination year plus any earned but unpaid bonus from the prior year.¹ A separate change of control agreement provides additional protections, including full vesting of outstanding equity awards if Poole is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within 90 days before or 12 months after a change of control.¹ The full agreements will be filed as exhibits to Vertex's 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.¹