Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) realigns leadership as Shetty refocuses on lab

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. reported a leadership transition in its operating roles. Effective January 1, 2026, co‑founder Dr. Reshma Shetty will transition her Chief Operating Officer responsibilities to Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jason Kelly and executive Jennifer Wipf. Dr. Shetty will remain President, continue serving on the Board of Directors, and focus on expanding and using the company’s autonomous lab to deliver cell engineering service offerings, while Dr. Kelly will take on the principal operating officer policymaking duties.

Jennifer Wipf, previously Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager, Discovery Solutions and Manufacturing, will oversee operations functions such as day‑to‑day commercial operations, procurement, deployment, facilities and real estate, and people operations, reporting to Dr. Kelly. The changes keep Dr. Shetty in a substantial policymaking role while formalizing broader operating responsibilities for Dr. Kelly and Ms. Wipf.

Insights

Corporate governance and leadership analyst

Ginkgo redistributes COO duties while retaining core founder leadership.

The company is reallocating operational responsibilities without losing continuity at the top. Dr. Reshma Shetty steps away from the formal Chief Operating Officer title but remains President and a Board member, keeping her in a substantial policymaking role. Dr. Jason Kelly, already Chief Executive Officer, will assume principal operating officer oversight, aligning strategic and operational decision-making.

Operational execution will be further supported by Jennifer Wipf, who moves from Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager, Discovery Solutions and Manufacturing, to a broader remit over day-to-day commercial operations, procurement, deployment, facilities and real estate, and people operations. Her background in growing the company’s cell engineering business and prior experience at Merck & Co. in vaccine development and plant management provide relevant expertise.

Overall, the changes emphasize specialization: Dr. Shetty focuses on expanding and using the autonomous lab for cell engineering services, while Dr. Kelly and Ms. Wipf take on wider operations. The actual impact will depend on how effectively this leadership structure supports the company’s cell engineering service offerings over time.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________________________________________________

FORM 8-K

______________________________________________________________

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 18, 2025

______________________________________________________________

GINKGO BIOWORKS HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

______________________________________________________________

Delaware

001-40097

87-2652913

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

27 Drydock Avenue

8th Floor

Boston, MA 02210

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (877) 422-5362

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

______________________________________________________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o			Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o			Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share

DNA

NYSE

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On December 18, 2025, Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that Dr. Reshma Shetty, the Company’s President, Chief Operating Officer, and member of the Board of Directors, will transition her Chief Operating Officer duties to Jennifer Wipf and Dr. Jason Kelly, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, on January 1, 2026. In connection with this transition, Dr. Shetty, who has served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer since its founding, will remain employed at the Company and will continue in a substantial policymaking function in her role of President and her service on the Board of Directors. Her new focus will be overseeing the Company’s efforts to expand and use its autonomous lab to deliver its cell engineering service offerings. Dr. Kelly will assume the oversight and substantial policymaking functions of the principal operating officer.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Jennifer Wipf, who was previously Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager, Discovery Solutions and Manufacturing, will assume responsibilities related to the Company’s operations, including day-to-day commercial operations, procurement, deployment, facilities and real estate, and people operations, reporting to Dr. Kelly. Ms. Wipf previously led the Company’s commercial function, where she played a key role in growing the company’s cell engineering business. Before joining the Company, Ms. Wipf spent more than a decade at Merck & Co., gaining extensive experience in vaccine development, domestic and international plant management, and U.S. market commercial operations. Ms. Wipf holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Arizona.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

			GINKGO BIOWORKS HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: December 23, 2025			By:			/s/ Karen Tepichin
			Name:			Karen Tepichin
			Title:			General Counsel

FAQ

What leadership change did Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) announce?

Ginkgo Bioworks announced that effective January 1, 2026, Dr. Reshma Shetty will transition her Chief Operating Officer duties to Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jason Kelly and executive Jennifer Wipf, while remaining President and a member of the Board of Directors.

Will Dr. Reshma Shetty remain at Ginkgo Bioworks after stepping back from COO duties?

Yes. Dr. Reshma Shetty will remain employed as President, continue serving on the Board of Directors, and retain a substantial policymaking function with a new focus on overseeing efforts to expand and use the company’s autonomous lab for its cell engineering service offerings.

What new responsibilities will Jennifer Wipf have at Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA)?

Jennifer Wipf will assume responsibilities related to operations, including day-to-day commercial operations, procurement, deployment, facilities and real estate, and people operations, and will report to Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jason Kelly.

What experience does Jennifer Wipf bring to her expanded role at Ginkgo Bioworks?

Jennifer Wipf previously led the company’s commercial function and played a key role in growing its cell engineering business. Before joining Ginkgo Bioworks, she spent more than a decade at Merck & Co. with experience in vaccine development, domestic and international plant management, and U.S. market commercial operations. She holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Arizona.

How will Dr. Jason Kelly’s role change at Ginkgo Bioworks?

Dr. Jason Kelly will continue as Chief Executive Officer and will assume the oversight and substantial policymaking functions of the principal operating officer following the transition of Chief Operating Officer duties from Dr. Reshma Shetty.

What will be Dr. Shetty’s main focus after the transition at Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA)?

After the transition, Dr. Shetty’s main focus will be overseeing Ginkgo Bioworks’ efforts to expand and use its autonomous lab to deliver its cell engineering service offerings, while maintaining her roles as President and Board member.