Vir Biotechnology, Inc. announced on October 1, 2026, that Aziz Sawaf has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 5, 2026. Mr. Sawaf will assume the role of principal financial officer, succeeding Brent Sabatini, who will continue in his position as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer.
Mr. Sawaf joins Vir Biotechnology from Theravance Biopharma, Inc., where he served as Chief Financial Officer since 2023 and as Senior Vice President of Operations Strategy since 2025. He originally joined Theravance in 2014 and previously held financial leadership roles at Gilead Sciences, Inc. Mr. Sawaf holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Arizona, an MBA from the University of Southern California, and an MBEE from Johns Hopkins University, and is a CFA charterholder.
The company disclosed the terms of Mr. Sawaf’s employment. His annualized base salary is set at $520,000, with a target annual bonus of 45% of that amount. He is also receiving a one-time cash sign-on bonus of $150,000, split into payments of $75,000 on the effective date and $75,000 following the one-year anniversary of his employment. Additionally, the company plans to grant him equity awards on or around November 15, 2026, consisting of an option to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock and restricted stock units for 75,000 shares. Both awards will vest over four years.
Mr. Sawaf will be responsible for leading the finance, IT, and investor relations functions. He will also be entitled to severance benefits under the company’s Change in Control and Severance Benefit Plan, which provides for accelerated vesting and cash payments in the event of a covered termination during a change in control period.
