Boardroom Media (CEO News)
At CEO (Boardroom Media) we track over 1,000,000 startups and over 5,000,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top Chicago based CEO’ operating in the Biotechnology space. If you think a CEO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on [email protected].
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Harven DeShield
Chief Executive Officer of Vivacelle Bio
Dr. Harven DeShield is an Intellectual Property Attorney (JD with concentration in intellectual property and technology law) with experience in start up fund raising, patent litigation and prosecution, intellectual property transactions encompassing licensing and assignments of patents and trademarks, due diligence with respect to mergers and acquisitions, FDA law, commercialization and business development, contracts and business agreements. He also have a doctorate in Biochemistry, Masters in Biological Sciences and completed Graduate level course in the Business of Biotechnology Management.
Follow Harven DeShield:
About Vivacelle Bio: Vivacelle Bio is a clinical stage biotech company focused on bringing to market a new paradigm in resuscitation fluids.
Norbert Riedel
President and CEO of Aptinyx
Norbert Riedel, Ph.D. was Corporate Vice President and Chief Science and Innovation Officer of Baxter International Inc., a diversified healthcare company from March 2001 until January 2013. Before assuming this role, from 1998 to 2001, Norbert Riedel served as President and General Manager of the recombinant therapeutic proteins business unit and Vice President of Research and Development of Baxter’s bioscience business. Prior to joining Baxter, from 1996 to 1998, he was head of worldwide biotechnology and worldwide core research functions at Hoechst-Marion Roussel, now Sanofi-Aventis, a global pharmaceutical company. Previously, he held a series of scientific management positions at Hoechst-Marion Roussel and Hoechst AG. Norbert Riedel is a member of the Board of Directors of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization and also serves on the Advisory Board of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Center for Biotechnology. Most recently, he was appointed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to the Illinois Innovation Council. From 1999 to 2010, Norbert Riedel was a member of the Board of Directors of Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, and its predecessor company, Genome Therapeutics Corporation, a genomics company. Norbert Riedel was a member of the Supervisory Board of MediGene AG, a biotechnology company from 2003 to 2013. Norbert Riedel was postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University from 1984 to 1987 and an Assistant Professor and Associate Professor of medicine and biochemistry at Boston University School of Medicine from 1987 to 1991, is an adjunct professor at Boston University School of Medicine, an adjunct professor of Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and was a visiting professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992. In 2009, Norbert Riedel was elected as member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.Norbert Riedel received his Diploma in biochemistry from the University of Frankfurt in 1981 and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Frankfort in 1983.
Follow Norbert Riedel:
About Aptinyx, Naurex: Aptinyx Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company.
Eric Lefkofsky
Founder and CEO of Tempus
Eric Lefkofsky is the founder and CEO at Tempus. He is co-founder of Lightbank, a venture fund investing in disruptive technology businesses. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN), a global e-commerce marketplace, and an early investor in Uptake Technologies, a leading predictive analytics platform for the world’s largest industries; Mediaocean, a leading provider of integrated media procurement technology; Echo Global Logistics (NASDAQ: ECHO), a technology-enabled transportation and logistics outsourcing firm; and InnerWorkings (NASDAQ: INWK), a global provider of managed print and promotional solutions. He co-chairs the Lefkofsky Family Foundation with his wife Liz to advance high-impact initiatives that enhance lives in the communities served. Lefkofsky serves as a Trustee of Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Science and Industry and World Business Chicago. He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Lefkofsky is an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago and author of Accelerated Disruption: Understanding the True Speed of Innovation. He graduated from the University of Michigan and received his Juris Doctor at University of Michigan Law School. For more information, visit lefkofsky.com.
Follow Eric Lefkofsky:
About Groupon, Lightbank, Tempus, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Zest Health: Tempus is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Sean P. Nolan
President & Chief Executive Officer of AveXis
Sean P. Nolan is an accomplished executive with over 24 years of pharmaceutical industry experience that includes leadership roles in building and creating significant value for both publicly held and private companies. He has a broad base of business experience in a multi-national pharmaceutical organization, M&A activities in a small, private equity backed company ($900MM) and in a public biotech company ($8.3B).He created, transformed, and optimized businesses through insightful leadership, strong execution skills, and deep business strategy and operational expertise. He is skilled at building compelling company, functional, and team visions and translating those visions into accomplishments.
Follow Sean P. Nolan:
About AveXis, InterMune: AveXis is a Biotech company is focused on developing gene therapy for patients with rare and life-threatening neurological genetic diseases.
Timothy Walbert
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Pharma
Mr. Walbert has served as chairman of our board of directors since 2010 and our president and chief executive officer since June 2008. Mr. Walbert served as president, chief executive officer and director of IDM Pharma, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company which was acquired by Takeda America Holdings, Inc., or Takeda, in June 2009. Prior to IDM, Mr. Walbert served as executive vice president, commercial operations at NeoPharm, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Walbert served as divisional vice president and general manager, immunology, where he led the global development and launch of the multi-indication biologic HUMIRA, which is on track to exceed $10.0 billion in 2013 sales, and divisional vice president, global cardiovascular strategy at Abbott, now AbbVie. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Walbert served as director, CELEBREX North America and arthritis team leader, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Canada at G.D. Searle & Company. From 1991 to 1998, Mr. Walbert also held sales and marketing roles with increasing responsibility at G.D. Searle, Merck & Co., Inc. and Wyeth. Mr. Walbert received his B.A. in business from Muhlenberg College, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Walbert serves on the board of directors of XOMA Ltd. (NASDAQ: XOMA), Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ: RPTP), the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO), ChicagoNEXT, a World Business Chicago (WBC) led council of technology leaders and the Greater Chicago Arthritis Foundation. Mr. Walbert was also recently appointed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to the Illinois Innovation Council.
Follow Timothy Walbert:
About Horizon Pharma, Horizon Therapeutics, Viela Bio: Horizon Therapeutics focuses on the development of prescription drugs for mild to moderate pain relief and arthritis.
Paul R Edick
Chairman & CEO of Xeris Pharmaceuticals
Mr. Edick joined Xeris Pharmaceuticals as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in January 2017. Prior to his time at Xeris, Mr. Edick was Founding Partner of 3G Advisors, a consultancy to the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and healthcare investor communities. From 2010 to 2014, Mr. Edick was the Chief Executive Officer of Durata Therapeutics (Nasdaq: DRTX), a biopharmaceutical company addressing the growing need for new antibiotics to treat infectious diseases. Durata was acquired by Actavis plc, now Allergan plc, in November 2014. Prior to Durata, Mr. Edick was Chief Executive Officer of Ganic Pharmaceuticals, a Warburg Pincus investment search vehicle, from 2008 to 2010. Before Ganic, Mr. Edick was Chief Executive Officer of MedPointe Healthcare, Inc., a US-based specialty pharmaceutical company, a position he assumed in 2006, having been President of Pharmaceutical Operations since 2002. Mr. Edick led the growth of the business and the development of a clinical stage portfolio, and the company was subsequently sold to Meda AB of Sweden in 2007. Mr. Edick also has extensive industry experience with leading consumer, pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations, including Pharmacia as Group Vice President and President, Asia Pacific & Latin America Operations at Pharmacia; and Searle Pharmaceuticals as President of Asia Pacific, Canada & Latin America Operations, VP, Canada & Latin America Operations. He also has experience leading the US managed care organization, US marketing organization and Global Pain & Inflammation Business, including the commercialization and launch planning for Celebrex®. In addition, Mr. Edick has also held sales, marketing, advertising, and advisory positions in Procter & Gamble, Ortho Pharmaceuticals, and The Hamilton Group.
Follow Paul R Edick:
About Xeris Pharmaceuticals: Xeris Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical company that develops therapies for patients in endocrinology, neurology, and gastroenterology.
Aidan Mouat
CEO & Co-Founder of Hazel Technologies
Follow Aidan Mouat:
About Hazel Technologies: Hazel Technologies develops biotechnology for reducing waste in the agricultural supply chain.
Chandler Robinson
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Monopar
Chandler D. Robinson, MD MBA MSc Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robinson, in 2010, co-founded and was CEO of Tactic Pharma. He helped lead Tactic through a successful sale of its lead compound. His passion is leveraging his interests in medicine, science, and finance to help bring new therapeutics to patients. The compound Dr. Robinson researched at Northwestern University as an undergraduate, and published on in Science, is currently entering a Phase III clinical trial for Wilson Disease. Among his previous experiences, Dr. Robinson in 2008 worked at Onyx Pharmaceuticals in their Nexavar marketing division, from 2008-2009 as a co-manager of a healthcare clinic in San Jose CA, from 2004 to present as Founder and President of an undergraduate research focused non-profit, and from 2006 to 2007 at Bear Stearns investment bank. He was previously on the board of Wilson Therapeutics, and is currently on the board of Northwestern University’s Chemistry of Life Processes Institute. Dr. Robinson graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University, earned a master’s degree in International Health Policy and Health Economics from the London School of Economics on a Fulbright Scholarship, an MBA from Cambridge University on a Gates Scholarship, and an MD from Stanford University.
Follow Chandler Robinson:
About Monopar: Monopar Therapeutics is an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on developing orphan oncology compounds.
Mary Szela
CEO and President of Surefire Medical
Mary Szela is the CEO & President at TriSalus Life Sciences .
Follow Mary Szela:
About Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Surefire Medical, TriSalus Life Sciences: TriSalus Life Sciences develops novel infusion systems for the interventional radiology market.
Harry D. Rowland
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Endotronix
Dr. Rowland has led the company’s operations, strategy, and technology development since inception. He received his PhD in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology as well as a BS in mechanical engineering and MA in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Rowland’s professional interests are at the intersection of transformative technologies and emerging business opportunities. He has been active in research and development of micro and nanotechnology fabrication methods for 15 years, including invited research at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico and Trinity College, Ireland. Dr. Rowland has authored or presented over 15 conference and journal papers in internationally recognized peer-reviewed publications such as Science and Nano, with his work referenced in more than 300 scholarly articles. He is an inventor on 10 issued patents and several pending applications.
Follow Harry D. Rowland:
About Endotronix: Endotronix is a developer of hemodynamic monitoring technologies to help detect worsening heart failure earlier than ever before.
Sid Hopps
CEO of JivanaBiotechnology
Follow Sid Hopps:
About JivanaBiotechnology: Jivana Biotechnology is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company
Jason Smith
Co-founder & CEO of rMark Bio
Follow Jason Smith:
About rMark Bio: rMark Bio delivers intelligence solutions to the life science industry.
David Kravitz
Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Lifeline Scientific
Mr. Kravitz is an accomplished entrepreneur and inventor who has served in various senior executive, director and advisory positions throughout his career in life sciences. For over 20 years, his focus has been in the fields of trauma and transplantation medicine, women’s reproductive health, therapeutics adherence and regenerative medicine. He is a co-inventor of several dozen medical technology patents and has been a founder of medical technology companies including Organ Recovery Systems where he served as Chairman and CEO. In 2004, he was named in Fast Company magazine’s “Fast 50” list of global entrepreneurs and innovators. Mr. Kravitz is a co-founder of Lifeline Scientific, Inc. and has served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since its inception.
Follow David Kravitz:
About Lifeline Scientific: Lifeline Scientific is a medical technology company, develops products and services for cell, tissue, and organ transplantation.
Arthur Holden
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Arthur Holden is Advisor at Innoblative Designs.
Follow Arthur Holden:
About : Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a provider of healthier lives through nutritional research and preventive medicine.
Max Markovtsev
Founder & CEO of ORYX RESEARCH GROUP
Max is a researcher, futurist, marketer and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. He spent half of that time managing major international and domestic client accounts (P&G, Unilever, Wrigley, Nestle, NMFN, USMC, etc), as well as leading integrated strategy and business intelligence for the top three world’s ad agencies. At the age of 19 he helped launch Leo Burnett’s operations in Russia, managing the entire P&G account and pioneering local TV production with highly acclaimed commercials for Tide, Vidal Sassoon, Vicks and the P&G’s local cleaning brand Myth. After moving to the U.S. the following year, he managed domestic P&G Cheer and Luvs accounts for Leo Burnett Chicago, Wrigley International for BBDO and later led strategy and business intelligence for J. Walter Thompson’s digital division in North America. He then proceeded to operate and exit an international marketing consultancy and later founded Purple Orange, a boutique marketing agency focusing on brand identity and public relations, as well as using AI for marketing and PR integration. As of late, Max decided to proceed full time with his life long passion for anthropology and evolutionary studies and founded Oryx Research Group in November 2019.
Follow Max Markovtsev:
About ORYX RESEARCH GROUP, Purple Orange: Anthropological and Evolutionary Research
James Robinson
President and Chief Executive Officer of Urovant Sciences
Follow James Robinson:
About Urovant Sciences: Urovant Sciences is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for urologic conditions.
Mark Locascio
Founder & CEO of MiracleCord
Mark Locascio serves as the Founder and CEO of MiracleCord. Mr. Locascio is a highly accomplished entrepreneur, with more than 30 years’ experience serving in senior executive, director and advisory positions throughout his career. He is an innovator whose leadership, expertise, and acute business acumen have served as the foundation for his many business achievements.
After experiencing the loss of a close family member to Leukemia, Mr. Locascio founded MiracleCord in an effort to help other families facing life-threatening diseases and conditions.
Follow Mark Locascio:
About MiracleCord: MiracleCord is a biotechnology company that provides cord blood and cord tissue banking services to families.
Philip R. Troyk
President & CEO of Sigenics
Philip Troyk is the President & CEO at Sigenics Inc.
Follow Philip R. Troyk:
About Sigenics: Sigenics was established in December 2000 with one purpose in mind: to provide excellence in silicon
Solomon Arman Nabatiyan
Founder & CEO of Cervia Diagnostic Innovations
Solomon is currently a Research Professor and Director of Clinical Technologies in the Department of Internal Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, investigating the relationship between natural human immunity and the development of cancer. He has published many scientific papers and is the inventor of several US patents. He received his Bachelors of Science at the University of Illinois in cellular and molecular biology, his master’s degree in Neurophysiology at the University of Cambridge in England and his PhD at the University of Cambridge in cancer cell biology. His PhD adviser, Prof. John Gurdon, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2012. After receiving his PhD, he was a lecturer and research fellow at the Department of Oncology/Genome Damage and Stability Center at Sussex University in England. There he did research in cancer genetics relating to oxidative damage of genetic material and mechanisms of epigenetic change leading to cancer formation in cervical and bladder tissue. He then moved back to the Chicago area where he took up a post for five years at Northwestern University as a Research Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He was recently elected to the USA’s Who’s Who in Science and Engineering and is policy advisor to Illinois representative Daniel Biss on state-wide initiatives on entrepreneurship and innovation. His policy recommendations led to introduction of legislation (Senate Bill 107) into the state assembly in June 2011 that unanimously passed the House and Senate floors and expanded the Technology Development Account (TDA), authorizing the State Treasurer to allocate $64 Million of the Treasurer’s investment portfolio in Illinois venture capital funds. He is also a poet of 5 published volumes that follow an Eastern theme of mediation and inner harmony.
Follow Solomon Arman Nabatiyan:
About Cervia Diagnostic Innovations, Rush University: Cervia Diagnostic Innovations is a social enterprise company that serves as a developer of point-of-care technologies for cervical cancer.
Lewis S. Gruber
CEO and CSO and Co-Founder of SIWA Therapeutics
Lewis S. Gruber is Chief Executive Officer, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of SIWA. Prior to co-founding SIWA in 2006, he was a founder of Arryx, Inc., and was its CEO from 2000 through 2005 (acquired by a publicly-held company). While Mr. Gruber was at Arryx, it received numerous awards including ones for World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer (2005) and Red Herring Top 100 Innovator for 2004. Prior to that, he became CEO and a member of the Board of Hyseq, Inc. from 1994 through 2000. While CEO of that company, he completed the largest initial public offering of a biotechnology company in 1997 as well as collaborations totaling over $102 million. He is the inventor of all of SIWA’s issued patents and a co-inventor on numerous others. Mr. Gruber was a patent attorney for many years before becoming an entrepreneur. He has spoken at numerous conferences including most recently, the Third Annual Conference on the Governance of Emerging Technologies: Law, Policy and Ethics Session on Anti-Aging Technologies and Stem Cells Regenerative Medicine Congress 2015. In addition to a J.D., he has an M.S. in biology. Mr. Gruber serves on the board of the Field Museum of Natural History, and is a member of the Visiting Committee of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago and the Madison Council of the Library of Congress.
Follow Lewis S. Gruber:
About SIWA Therapeutics: SIWA Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that has a monoclonal antibody that targets and destroys senescent cells.
John Puisis
Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cour Pharmaceuticals Development
John is a senior executive with over 25 years’ experience at transforming technology-based companies into product-based organizations. He combines a unique set of strategic, financial, talent management, and operating skills to identify unmet medical needs optimizing an organization to translate cutting–edge technology into products that address our most pressing hard to treat diseases to enhance people’s lives. Prior to co-founding and joining Cour, John was Co-Founder and CEO of Tolera Therapeutics. He led the company from initial startup through manufacturing optimization, pre-clinical, completion of a Phase 2 clinical trial, and filing of a Phase 3 Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the FDA. The company built significant barriers to entry by achieving several orphan drug designations and issuance of composition of matter patents utilizing a unique patent strategy. John was also instrumental to the startup of Cleveland Heart Labs (sold to LabCorp). He has served on the boards of Third Wave Technologies (NASDQ:TWTI) and ProNAi Therapeutics (NASDQ:DNAI), Tolera Therapeutics. John is a current board member at Cour Pharmaceuticals and advisory board member of NewCures of Northwestern University. He is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. Prior to Tolera, he was President and CEO of Third Wave Technologies (NASDAQ: TWTI), a biotechnology company, where he led the transformation of a non-sustainable genomics tools business into a robust growth-driven molecular diagnostics company primarily by leading the development of hard to detect infections and cancers. Third Wave was eventually sold for $600 million. John also served as a strategic consultant to DEKALB Genetics Corporation (NYSE) that was ultimately sold for $3.2 billion. Earlier in his career, John was with Spencer Stuart and Egon Zehnder International, in their life sciences practice groups where he consulted with biotech and pharmaceutical firms. After receiving his BS in Accounting from Northern Illinois University, John started his career at Arthur Andersen and also worked for Price Waterhouse. He received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Follow John Puisis:
About Cour Pharmaceuticals Development: Cour Pharmaceuticals Development is developing nanoparticle technology to help reset the immune system of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
Caralynn Nowinski Collens
CEO and Co-Founder of Dimension Inx
Caralynn Nowinski Collens is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dimension Inx.
Follow Caralynn Nowinski Collens:
About Dimension Inx: Dimension Inx focuses on creating advanced biomaterials and 3D-printed implants that fundamentally change human disease treatment.
Khalid Alam
Founder & CEO of Stemloop
Khalid Alam currently works as the Founder and CEO for Stemloop.
Follow Khalid Alam:
About Stemloop: Stemloop is a cell-free biosensors platform designed to create sensors that operate outside of cells.
