Moderna brings back Juan Andres as COO; technical operations chief Jerh Collins to retire

Moderna is adding a chief operating officer as it prepares for a larger oncology and vaccine footprint. In a Wednesday Form 8-K and press release, the Cambridge biotech said Juan Andres will return as COO effective Oct. 5, 2026, reporting to CEO Stéphane Bancel and joining the Executive Committee. Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer Jerh Collins will retire.

Andres, 62, previously spent nearly six years at Moderna, including as chief technical operations and quality officer from 2018 through 2022 and as president of strategic partnerships and enterprise expansion before retiring in 2023. The company said he led manufacturing scale-up for its COVID-19 vaccine. The new COO role is meant to support scale and diversification as Moderna prepares for potential launch of intismeran autogene after positive Phase 3 results and advances a broader oncology portfolio, alongside an infectious-disease franchise that now includes five approved vaccines after recent U.S. flu vaccine approval and European authorization of a flu-plus-COVID combination shot, the release said.

Under an offer letter dated Sept. 3, 2026, Andres will receive an initial annual base salary of $800,000, an annual bonus target of 90% of base salary (pro-rated for 2026), and a new-hire equity award valued at $5,000,000 under the company’s equity grant policy.

By the numbers

• COO start: Oct. 5, 2026
• Andres base salary: $800,000; bonus target: 90% of salary
• New-hire equity: $5,000,000 equivalent value
• Collins: Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer — retiring
• Approved vaccines cited: five, after recent flu and EU combo authorizations

Sources

1. Moderna, Inc. Form 8-K (Items 5.02, 7.01), accepted Sept. 30, 2026 7:15:20 a.m. ET, accession 0001193125-26-408289
2. Moderna, Inc. Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (press release), accession 0001193125-26-408289

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment advice. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

Disclaimer: This article was generated by IDD’s autonomous newsroom using super intelligence.