GeneDx (WGS) names former Quest Diagnostics leader Mark Gardner President
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
GeneDx Holdings Corp. appointed Mark Gardner as President, effective June 15, 2026. He will oversee the company’s lab and commercial operations, report to CEO Katherine Stueland, and join the executive leadership team, while Bryan Dechairo shifts to a role leading product, technology and innovation initiatives.
Gardner previously led molecular genomics and oncology at Quest Diagnostics and held senior roles at Corza Medical, OmniSeq and Thermo Fisher Scientific. His employment agreement includes a $530,000 annual base salary, a target annual bonus equal to 65% of base salary, and $2,000,000 in restricted stock units vesting over four years, along with severance and change‑in‑control protections.
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Negative
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Insights
GeneDx adds an experienced diagnostics leader as President with standard incentive and protection terms.
The appointment of Mark Gardner as President brings leadership experience from Quest Diagnostics, OmniSeq and Thermo Fisher into GeneDx’s commercial and lab operations. The role is positioned directly under the CEO, indicating a focus on operational and commercial execution.
Compensation terms feature a $530,000 base salary, a target bonus at 65% of base, and $2,000,000 in RSUs vesting over four years, which align his incentives with long‑term equity performance. Severance and change‑in‑control benefits, including up to 12 months of salary continuation and equity acceleration after a qualifying change in control, are typical for senior executives.
Overall, this appears to be a routine but meaningful leadership addition. Subsequent company disclosures may clarify how Gardner’s leadership affects commercial growth and operational scale in periods such as 2026 and beyond.
8-K Event Classification
3 items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
3 items
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
President base salary: $530,000 per year
Target annual bonus: 65% of base salary
RSU grant value: $2,000,000 in RSUs
+5 more
8 metrics
President base salary
$530,000 per year
Annual base salary for Mark Gardner as President
Target annual bonus
65% of base salary
Bonus target for Mark Gardner tied to base salary
RSU grant value
$2,000,000 in RSUs
Grant-date value vesting over four years
Severance base salary continuation
9 months
Termination without cause or good reason, no change in control
Health coverage continuation
12 months
Post-termination health benefits under employment agreement
CIC salary continuation
12 months
Termination within 12 months after change in control
CIC bonus payment
1x target annual bonus
Lump-sum bonus upon qualifying change-in-control termination
Initial employment term
3 years
Employment agreement term before automatic one-year renewals
Key Terms
restricted stock units, change in control, good reason, indemnification agreement, +2 more
6 terms
restricted stock units financial
"a grant to be made by the Company of restricted stock units with an aggregate grant-date value of $2,000,000"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
change in control financial
"If instead such termination occurs within the 12-month period following a change in control, he will be entitled"
A "change in control" occurs when the ownership or management of a company shifts significantly, such as through a merger, acquisition, or sale of a large part of its assets. This change can impact how the company is run and may influence its future direction. For investors, it matters because it can affect the company's stability, strategy, and value, often signaling potential changes in investment risk or opportunity.
good reason financial
"if Mr. Gardner is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in his employment agreement)"
indemnification agreement regulatory
"Mr. Gardner also entered into the Company’s standard indemnification agreement, a form of which was previously filed"
An indemnification agreement is a contract in which one party promises to cover losses, costs, or legal claims that another party might face, acting like a tailored safety net or private insurance policy. For investors, it matters because such agreements shift potential financial risk away from a company or its officers and onto the indemnifier, which can affect a company’s future liabilities, cash flow and how risky the investment appears during deal-making or litigation.
forward-looking statements regulatory
"This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
FDA Breakthrough Device designation medical
"GenomeDx™ tests – ranked #1 by expert geneticists and granted FDA Breakthrough Device designation"
A FDA Breakthrough Device Designation is a U.S. regulatory status that gives certain medical devices faster and more flexible review because they may offer more effective treatment or diagnosis for unmet medical needs. Think of it as a “fast lane” through the regulatory process that can shorten development time and reduce regulatory uncertainty, which matters to investors because it can accelerate potential revenue, lower time-to-market risk, and make a product more attractive—while not guaranteeing final approval or commercial success.
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): June 15, 2026
Commission file number 001-39482
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) | |||||
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (888 ) 729-1206
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
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).
Emerging growth company ☐
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. ☐
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On June 16, 2026, GeneDx Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of Mark Gardner, age 60, in the role of President, which was effective on June 15, 2026. As President, Mr. Gardner will oversee the Company’s lab and commercial operations. Mr. Gardner will report to Katherine Stueland, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and will serve on the Company’s executive leadership team.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Gardner served as Senior Vice President of Molecular Genomics and Oncology at Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, from September 2022 to June 2026. Mr. Gardner also held executive leadership roles at prominent diagnostic and life sciences companies, including at Corza Medical Inc., where he was Executive Partner, Senior Vice President and General Manager of European Commercial Operations and Biosurgery Products from June 2019 to October 2022, at OmniSeq Corporation, where he was Chief Executive Officer, and at Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., where he held Vice President and General Manager positions. Mr. Gardner holds a B.S. in History from the United States Naval Academy, an M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University, and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
In connection with the appointment, GeneDx, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Mr. Gardner entered into an employment agreement providing for (i) a total annual base salary of $530,000, (ii) a target annual bonus of 65% of Mr. Gardner’s total annual base salary, and (iii) a grant to be made by the Company of restricted stock units with an aggregate grant-date value of $2,000,000, which will vest in equal annual installments over a four-year period, subject to Mr. Gardner’s continued service with the Company on each applicable vesting date. The employment agreement provides for an initial term of three years and automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless earlier terminated.
Pursuant to his employment agreement, if Mr. Gardner is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in his employment agreement) or the Company fails to renew the term other than in connection with a change in control, he will be entitled to receive 9 months of base salary continuation and 12 months of continued coverage under the Company’s group health benefit plans, subject to his execution of a release of claims. If instead such termination occurs within the 12-month period following a change in control, he will be entitled to receive 12 months of base salary continuation, a lump sum payment equal to one times his target annual bonus, 12 months of continued coverage under the Company’s group health benefit plans, and accelerated vesting of his outstanding equity-based compensation awards, subject to his execution of a release of claims.
The foregoing description of Mr. Gardner’s employment agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such employment agreement, a copy of which will be filed in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
Mr. Gardner also entered into the Company’s standard indemnification agreement, a form of which was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-39482) on July 28, 2021.
Mr. Gardner has no family relationships that require disclosure pursuant to Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K and has not been involved in any transactions that require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Gardner and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Gardner was named President of the Company.
Following Mr. Gardner’s appointment, Bryan Dechairo will transition into a role focused on leading the Company’s product, technology and innovation initiatives.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On June 16, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Gardner’s appointment as President, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01. The information in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any other filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No | Description | ||||
99.1 | Press Release, dated June 16, 2026, regarding the registrant’s appointment of its new President. | ||||
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.
| GENEDX HOLDINGS CORP. | ||||||||
| Date: June 16, 2026 | By: | /s/ Katherine Stueland | ||||||
| Name: | Katherine Stueland | |||||||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
Exhibit 99.1
GeneDx Names Mark Gardner President to Lead Its Next Phase of Scale and Growth
Former Quest Diagnostics leader joins to fuel operational and commercial execution
GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 16, 2026 — GeneDx Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: WGS), the leader in rare disease diagnosis and improving health through the power of genomic data, today announced the appointment of Mark Gardner as President, effective June 15, 2026.
Reporting to Katherine Stueland, Chief Executive Officer, Gardner will lead GeneDx’s commercial and operations teams, with a focus on strengthening execution, scaling efficiently and expanding the company’s leadership in genomic medicine.
“GeneDx has built a powerful foundation and is entering a stage where execution at scale matters more than ever,” said Stueland. “Mark brings nearly three decades of experience leading diagnostics, genomics, life sciences and healthcare technology businesses, including at some of the most complex commercial organizations in our industry. His leadership will be immediately valuable as we sharpen our commercial and operational focus.”
Gardner most recently served as Senior Vice President of Molecular Genomics and Oncology at Quest Diagnostics, where he led a large-scale oncology and genomics business and helped drive growth across precision medicine, rare disease and advanced diagnostic testing. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of OmniSeq, a precision medicine company acquired by Labcorp, and held senior leadership roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific and Life Technologies, where he led global genomics, sequencing and life sciences businesses.
“GeneDx is uniquely positioned to help change how genetic disease is diagnosed and establish a new standard of care,” said Gardner. “I’m excited to join the team and help strengthen the commercial and operational capabilities needed to scale efficiently, execute with discipline and extend GeneDx’s leadership over the long term.”
Gardner began his leadership career in the United States Navy, where he served as a P-3 Orion pilot and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University, and a bachelor’s degree in history from the United States Naval Academy.
About GeneDx
GeneDx’s (Nasdaq: WGS) mission is to empower everyone to live their healthiest life through genomics. GeneDx combines unmatched clinical expertise, advanced technology, and the power of GeneDx Infinity™ – the world’s largest rare disease genomic dataset. This unparalleled foundation powers GeneDx’s ExomeDx™ and GenomeDx™ tests – ranked #1 by expert geneticists and granted FDA Breakthrough Device designation – enabling clinicians to deliver precise, fast, and actionable diagnoses. GeneDx Infinity also fuels discovery for biopharma, with the most powerful AI-driven genomic intelligence. A genomics pioneer over the last 25 years, diagnosing more than 4,800 genetic diseases and publishing more than 1,100 research publications, GeneDx is building the network that will drive the future of genomic precision medicine. For more information, visit genedx.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) our ability to implement business plans and identify and realize additional opportunities, (ii) the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive healthcare industry, (iii) the size and growth of the market in which we operate, and (iv) recalibrating for building long-term, durable performance. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2025 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026, and other documents filed by us from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.
Investor Relations Contact:
Investors@GeneDx.com
Media Contact:
Press@GeneDx.com
FAQ
Who is Mark Gardner and what role will he have at GeneDx (WGS)?
Mark Gardner has been appointed President of GeneDx, effective June 15, 2026, reporting to the CEO. He will lead the company’s lab and commercial operations, drawing on senior leadership experience from Quest Diagnostics, OmniSeq, Thermo Fisher Scientific and other diagnostics and life sciences businesses.
What compensation package did GeneDx (WGS) grant to its new President Mark Gardner?
Mark Gardner’s employment agreement provides a total annual base salary of $530,000 and a target annual bonus equal to 65% of that base salary. He will also receive $2,000,000 in restricted stock units, vesting in equal annual installments over four years, subject to continued service.
What severance benefits can Mark Gardner receive under his GeneDx (WGS) employment agreement?
If terminated without cause, resigning for good reason, or not renewed outside a change in control, Gardner is eligible for nine months of base salary continuation and 12 months of health coverage. These benefits increase to 12 months of salary, a bonus payment, health coverage, and equity acceleration after a qualifying change in control.
How does a change in control affect Mark Gardner’s equity awards at GeneDx (WGS)?
If Mark Gardner is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within 12 months following a change in control, his outstanding equity-based compensation awards will vest in full. He also receives 12 months of base salary continuation, a lump-sum target bonus, and continued health coverage, subject to a release of claims.
What happens to Bryan Dechairo’s responsibilities following Mark Gardner’s appointment at GeneDx (WGS)?
Following Mark Gardner’s appointment as President, Bryan Dechairo will transition into a role focused on leading GeneDx’s product, technology and innovation initiatives. This shift allows Gardner to concentrate on commercial and operations leadership while Dechairo emphasizes product and technology development.
What prior experience does Mark Gardner bring to GeneDx (WGS) as President?
Mark Gardner most recently served as Senior Vice President of Molecular Genomics and Oncology at Quest Diagnostics. He previously was CEO of OmniSeq and held senior roles at Corza Medical, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Life Technologies, giving him deep experience in genomics, oncology and life sciences businesses.