Vir Biotechnology names Aziz Sawaf as new CFO effective October 5, 2026

Vir Biotechnology, Inc. announced on October 1, 2026 that Aziz Sawaf, MBEE, MBA, CFA, has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 5, 2026.¹ He will lead the finance, IT and investor relations functions.¹

As of the effective date, Brent Sabatini, CPA, MBA, will cease serving as the company's interim principal financial officer and continue in his role as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer and "principal accounting officer" of the company.¹

Sawaf comes from Theravance Biopharma, Inc., where he served as Chief Financial Officer since 2023 and also Senior Vice President of Operations Strategy since 2025.¹ He first joined Theravance in 2014, holding financial leadership roles of increasing responsibility before being appointed Chief Financial Officer.¹ Prior to Theravance, Sawaf held roles on the R&D and commercial finance teams at Gilead Sciences, Inc.¹

Under his offer letter, Sawaf's annualized base salary will be $520,000, and he is eligible to participate in the company's annual bonus plan with a target bonus of 45% of his annualized base salary.¹ He will also receive a one-time cash sign-on bonus of $150,000, half paid around the effective date and half following the one-year anniversary of that date, subject to continued employment.¹

Separately, pursuant to the offer letter, the company has agreed to grant Sawaf two equity awards under its 2019 Equity Incentive Plan around November 15, 2026: an option to purchase 150,000 shares and a restricted stock unit award covering 75,000 shares.¹ The option will carry an exercise price equal to fair market value on the grant date and vest over four years, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary and the remainder in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter.¹ The RSUs will vest over four years, with one-quarter vesting on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.¹

If terminated without cause or for good reason within 12 months of a change in control, Sawaf would receive a lump sum equal to 12 months of base salary plus his annual target cash bonus, up to 12 months of health benefits, and full vesting acceleration of outstanding equity awards.¹ Outside a change-in-control period, a covered termination would entitle him to nine months of base salary plus a pro-rated target bonus and up to nine months of health benefits.¹