Robert Forrester served as the CEO of Verastem, Inc., from July 2013 until June 2019. His journey in the pharmaceutical industry is quite extensive. Before taking the helm at Verastem, he was the Chief Operating Officer at Forma Therapeutics and...

Robert Forrester served as the CEO of Verastem, Inc., from July 2013 until June 2019. His journey in the pharmaceutical industry is quite extensive. Before taking the helm at Verastem, he was the Chief Operating Officer at Forma Therapeutics and played key roles in companies like CombinatoRx and Coley Pharmaceuticals. During his tenure at Verastem, he was instrumental in pursuing the approval of the drug duvelisib, aiming to bring new treatment options to patients. His compensation varied significantly over the years, peaking at over $2.5 million in 2015 under a performance-driven pay structure. An interesting note is that his last year at Verastem saw a considerable stock options grant, which aligned with the company’s corporate performance. Despite his departure in 2019, Forrester continues to be connected to the industry through consulting roles and board memberships, showing that his insights are still valued. Additionally, his stock transactions showed an increasing trend, hinting at his confidence in the company’s future during his final years, peaking at over $960K in one month in June 2021.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Verastem CEOs

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Robert Forrester

Ex-CEO of Verastem

Education

N/A

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Healthcare

Born

January 1, 1964 - 61 years ago

CEO of Verastem for

5 years 11 months (Jul 2013 - Jun 2019)

Previous Experience

President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Robert Forrester

Holdings

See how much did Robert Forrester make over time.

Robert Forrester's insider trading activity shows a notable pattern from 2019 to 2021. He made significant trades monthly, with peaks like $964.29K in June 2021, indicating a strong belief in Verastem's trajectory at that time. In his last months at...

Robert Forrester's insider trading activity shows a notable pattern from 2019 to 2021. He made significant trades monthly, with peaks like $964.29K in June 2021, indicating a strong belief in Verastem's trajectory at that time. In his last months at Verastem, his investments seemed to reflect confidence, likely fueled by the company's progress on key clinical targets. By January 2022, the values began to decline, with smaller transaction amounts indicating a shift in strategy. The fluctuating values highlight his strategic moves as a major player both in terms of holding company shares and making significant trades to leverage changes in the market. Overall, his holdings tell a story of an active investor closely tied to Verastem's development.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

VSTM @ $6.71

Charitable Transactions

VSTM

1,500 shares

VSTM

Recent Charitable Transactions

VSTM

8,000 shares

VSTM

Dec 31, 2018

Charity

VSTM

10,000 shares

VSTM

Dec 31, 2017

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Robert Forrester.

VSTM

$14.00K

VSTM at $7.00/share

Sep 24, 2018

Purchase

VSTM

$73.50K

VSTM at $7.00/share

Sep 27, 2018

Purchase

VSTM

8,000 shares

VSTM

Dec 31, 2018

Charity

VSTM

8,000 shares

VSTM

Dec 31, 2018

Charity

VSTM

10,000 shares

VSTM

Dec 31, 2017

Charity

VSTM

10,000 shares

VSTM

Dec 31, 2017

Charity

VSTM

$14.21K

VSTM at $7.11/share

Jun 29, 2015

Purchase

VSTM

$7.97K

VSTM at $7.97/share

Jun 17, 2015

Purchase

VSTM

$8.66K

VSTM at $8.66/share

Dec 19, 2014

Purchase

VSTM

$7.62K

VSTM at $7.62/share

May 13, 2014

Purchase

Compensation History

See how much did Robert Forrester make over time.

Robert Forrester's compensation reveals much about the pressure and expectations placed on CEOs in the pharmaceutical industry. In 2019, his total compensation was $1,859,594, but this was largely due to stock options that vested upon his departure. Before that, his earnings fluctuated significantly—$2,525,097 in 2015 compared to $837,627 in 2014. He received performance-based incentives, including bonuses tied to drug approvals and corporate milestones. This structure is common in the industry, aligning executive pay with the success of their projects. While at Verastem, he was granted substantial stock options which he capitalized on in his last years, signifying trust in the company’s future successes. It's a stark reminder of how executive compensation can be a double-edged sword, providing both motivation and critique in a competitive field.

Year

2019

Total Compensation

$615.64K

Salary

$309.81K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aligns with company performance and aims to retain key executives while providing competitive compensation packages.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

Mr. Forrester did not receive a bonus for 2019 as his employment ended in June 2019.

Other

$305.83K

Board Justification

This includes severance payments and consulting fees paid to Mr. Forrester after his termination.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock awards were vested in 2019 as the amounts were not disclosed in the proxy statement.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics included net product revenue targets and clinical development goals.

Other Verastem CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Verastem

Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D.

Founder and Ex-CEO of Verastem

September 2012 - June 2013

Brian Stuglik

Ex-CEO of Verastem

July 2019 - July 2023