Tempest Appoints CFO to Lead Audit Committee
News related to:Tempest Therapeutics, Inc · 2 min read
BRISBANE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Tempest Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing in vivo CAR-T therapies designed to reset dysfunctional immunity in cancer and autoimmune disease, has appointed Nancy Freda-Smith to its board of directors and has appointed her as Chair of the Audit Committee. The appointment marks a significant moment for the company, as Freda-Smith brings extensive experience and deep expertise to the board.
Matt Adams, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Tempest, expressed his delight in welcoming Freda-Smith to the board.
Freda-Smith, who has held positions at Ralph Lauren, Chuy's Holdings, and Deloitte & Touche LLP, has a wealth of experience in corporate governance, global finance, enterprise risk management, and large-scale transformation. Her most recent role at Ralph Lauren involved leading internal audit, Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, enterprise risk management, asset protection, cybersecurity resilience, and global control transformation across operations spanning over 30 countries and more than $7 billion in revenue.
Previously, she served as an Independent Director and Audit Committee Member of Chuy's Holdings, overseeing the company's acquisition by Darden Restaurants, including M&A execution, cybersecurity response, SEC disclosure, and financial risk management. Earlier in her career, she advised Fortune 500 companies on SEC reporting, capital markets transactions, complex U.S. GAAP and IFRS matters, and audit quality. She is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner.
In her remarks, Freda-Smith expressed her enthusiasm for Tempest's science and its differentiated approach to in vivo CAR-T therapies.
The company's board of directors now includes Nancy Freda-Smith, who will serve as Chair of the Audit Committee. This appointment underscores Tempest's commitment to robust governance and financial oversight, as well as its strategic direction and potential for growth.
Tempest Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation in vivo CAR-T therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease. The company's lead product candidate, TPST-4003, combines a clinically supported dual-targeting CD19/BCMA CAR structure with an advanced CD7-targeting delivery system to support broad immune reset across multiple indications. Tempest envisions a world in which immune reset therapies bring safe, effective, and broadly accessible therapeutic options to patients in need.
The company's financial and governance frameworks are overseen by the Audit Committee, which is chaired by Nancy Freda-Smith. This committee is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the company's financial statements, the accuracy of its disclosures, and the effectiveness of its internal controls. Freda-Smith's leadership in this role will be crucial in maintaining the company's high standards of financial and governance practices.
Tempest's journey to appointing Nancy Freda-Smith to its board of directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee reflects its commitment to excellence and its strategic vision. As the company continues to advance its in vivo CAR-T therapies and expand its pipeline, Freda-Smith's expertise and leadership will be instrumental in guiding Tempest towards its future goals.