Amgen appointed David W. Gibbs, former CEO of Yum! Brands, to its board of directors on Monday, Oct. 26.

The Thousand Oaks-based biotech company disclosed the move in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The appointment took effect immediately, expanding the board to 13 directors, 12 of whom are independent.

Gibbs will serve on two board committees: the Audit Committee and the Compensation and Management Development Committee.

Who is David Gibbs?

Gibbs led Yum! Brands, a global restaurant company, as chief executive officer from 2020 to September 2025, according to the SEC filing. He held a series of senior roles at the company before that, including president and chief operating officer and chief financial officer. He has served as an advisor to Yum! Brands since October 2025.

Before reaching the C-suite, Gibbs ran the Pizza Hut Division as CEO from 2015 to 2016 and led Yum! Restaurants International as president and chief financial officer from 2012 to 2013.

He also sits on the boards of Under Armour, where he has chaired the Human Capital and Compensation Committee since 2021, and PepsiCo, where he joined the Audit Committee in 2026.

Gibbs holds a bachelor's degree in mathematical science from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

What it means locally

Amgen, a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, helped establish the biotechnology industry at its Thousand Oaks headquarters more than 45 years ago, according to its press release announcing the appointment.

Gibbs spent his career in the restaurant industry. Amgen focuses on cancer, heart disease, obesity and inflammatory conditions. The SEC filing noted no related-party transactions between Gibbs and Amgen and no arrangement with any other person behind the appointment.

Compensation

Under Amgen's standard non-employee director pay, Gibbs will receive a pro-rated share of a $115,000 annual cash retainer and $12,500 in committee meeting retainers through Dec. 31, 2026. He will also receive a pro-rated grant of fully vested restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $220,000 annually, to be issued two business days after Amgen releases its third-quarter 2026 earnings.