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Leadership

Management Team

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Chairman and CEO
Richard Pops
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


Richard Pops serves as Alkermes’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He joined Alkermes as CEO in 1991 and under his leadership, the organization has grown from a privately held company with 25 employees to an international, publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company with more than 2,000 employees.

Mr. Pops currently serves on the Board of Directors of Neurocrine Biosciences, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

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SVP, Chief Financial Officer
Iain Brown
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer


Iain Brown serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Mr. Brown leads the management of the Finance organization as well as the Business Planning, Procurement and Strategic Sourcing functions.

Mr. Brown has 25 years of financial experience within the biopharmaceutical industry. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer at Alkermes. Before joining Alkermes in 2003, Mr. Brown managed EMD Serono’s North American financial operations, after being Group Corporate Controller based in Geneva, Switzerland. He also previously served as Audit Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies from the University of Bradford, England and is a Chartered Accountant.

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SVP, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations
Sandy Coombs
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations


Sandy Coombs serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations. In this role, Ms. Coombs is responsible for Alkermes’ Investor Relations, Corporate and R&D Communications, Internal Communications, Product Communications, Patient Engagement and Corporate Events functions.

Ms. Coombs has more than 15 years of investor relations and corporate communications experience within the pharmaceutical industry. Since joining Alkermes in 2009, she has held several roles of increasing responsibility within Investor Relations and Corporate Communications. Prior to joining Alkermes, Ms. Coombs held positions at Oscient Pharmaceuticals and Deutsche Bank.

Ms. Coombs earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Master of Science in Finance from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management.

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SVP, Quality
Grace Doyle
Senior Vice President, Quality


Grace Doyle serves as Alkermes' Senior Vice President of Quality. In this role, Ms. Doyle is responsible for quality oversight of development and clinical-related activities at the company’s Waltham, Massachusetts site and the external network. Her role also includes responsibility for the Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and Validation functions at the company’s manufacturing sites.

Ms. Doyle has more than 25 years of experience in quality-related functions. Before joining Alkermes in September 2011, Ms. Doyle spent 10 years at Bristol Myers Squibb, supporting commercial products and new product introductions. Prior to that she served as Quality Manager at GeneMedix, supporting clinical development, and held various roles at Elan Drug Technologies, where she was responsible for site quality for both clinical and commercial activities.

Ms. Doyle earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Dublin City University and is a Qualified Person (QP) with Master of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology degree from Trinity College, Dublin.

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SVP, Program and Project Management Office
Colleen Ellwanger
Senior Vice President, Program and Project Management Office


Colleen Ellwanger serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President, Program and Project Management Office. In this role, Ms. Ellwanger is responsible for Alkermes’ centralized Project Management Office, focused on integrating end-to-end strategic planning and operational execution across multiple functions, including R&D, Commercial, Operations and IT.

Ms. Ellwanger has more than 20 years of program and project management experience within the pharmaceutical industry. Since joining Alkermes in 2000, she has held several roles of increasing responsibility within R&D. She is the executive sponsor of Limitless, Alkermes' Employee Resource Group for employees impacted by disability or illness, and played a pivotal role in establishing Alkermes’ employee volunteerism programming, Alkermes in Action.

Ms. Ellwanger earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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SVP, Regulatory Affairs
Heather Faulds
Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs


Heather Faulds serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. In this role, Ms. Faulds leads the Regulatory Strategy, Advertising and Promotion, Regulatory Operations, CMC Regulatory, Regulatory Policy, and Scientific Operations and CMC Governance functions. She is responsible for overseeing the developmental regulatory approval and post-approval processes.

Ms. Faulds has more than 20 years of experience leading global regulatory strategies across all phases of development, as well as multiple disease areas and therapeutic modalities. Before joining Alkermes in 2020, she served as Senior Vice President, Regulatory Sciences and Quality at Scholar Rock where she led multiple functions and was responsible for regulatory strategies across clinical programs for rare diseases and immuno-oncology. Prior to joining Scholar Rock, Ms. Faulds spent 12 years at Biogen.

Ms. Faulds earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University at Albany, SUNY and holds a Master of Regulatory Affairs and Health Policy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.

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EVP, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
David Gaffin
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary Alkermes plc


David Gaffin serves as Alkermes’ Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. In this role, he manages all aspects of legal, intellectual property and healthcare compliance operations across the organization.

Mr. Gaffin has been practicing law for over 20 years and has more than 17 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Before joining Alkermes in 2005, Mr. Gaffin held the role of Assistant General Counsel at Biogen Inc., where he provided legal counsel on product and compliance-related matters, and collaboration and licensing transactions.

Mr. Gaffin earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Harvard College and holds a Master of Business Administration from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law.

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SVP, Corporate Counsel and Secretary
Anne Giovanoni
Senior Vice President, Corporate Counsel and Secretary


Anne Giovanoni serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President, Corporate Counsel and Secretary. In this role, Ms. Giovanoni is responsible for the management of legal support for key areas of the company including research and development, clinical, manufacturing/supply chain, corporate functions and human resources/employment. 

Ms. Giovanoni has more than 18 years of legal experience within the pharmaceutical industry. Since joining Alkermes in 1998, she has held several roles of increasing responsibility within the Legal function. Prior to joining the Legal department, Ms. Giovanoni had several roles in Clinical Operations. She is an executive sponsor of Pride@Work, Alkermes' Employee Resource Group for LGBTQA+ employees and allies, and played a pivotal role in establishing Alkermes’ employee volunteerism programming, Alkermes in Action. Prior to joining Alkermes, Ms. Giovanoni worked in clinical operations and research roles for several specialty clinical research groups.

Ms. Giovanoni earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Smith College, and holds a Master’s of Regulatory Affairs and Health Policy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.

 

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SVP, Clinical Development
Julie Lekstrom Himes, M.D.
Senior Vice President, Clinical Development


Julie Lekstrom Himes, M.D. serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Clinical Development. In this role, Dr. Himes leads the clinical operations, clinical research, biostatistics and drug safety & pharmacovigilance functions. She is responsible for overseeing the execution and development of all programs supporting clinical development.

Dr. Himes has more than 25 years of global clinical research and development experience in clinical stage programs across a variety of therapeutic areas. Prior to joining Alkermes, she served as Vice President and Head, Clinical Sciences, Rare Genetics and Hematology at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. Earlier in her career, Dr. Himes held various leadership positions at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, TARIS Biomedical, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, and Millennium Pharmaceuticals. In addition to her experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Himes has a background in academic research. 

Dr. Himes received her bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Virginia and her Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Virginia.  

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SVP, IT and Chief Information Officer
Thomas Harvey
Senior Vice President, IT and Chief Information Officer


Tom Harvey serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Information Technology (IT) and Chief Information Officer. In this role, Mr. Harvey leads the Corporate IT and Technology functions that support all areas of the business. He is also responsible for implementing technologies that address barriers to treatment and unmet patient needs and provide strategic advantages.

Mr. Harvey has more than 30 years of experience in IT within the biotechnology, specialty pharmaceutical and medical products sectors. Since joining Alkermes in 2005, he has held several IT roles with increasing responsibility. Prior to joining Alkermes, Mr. Harvey held numerous IT roles at Abbott Laboratories, including managing IT for the U.S. Diabetes Care Division.

Mr. Harvey earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

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EVP, R&D and Chief Medical Officer
Craig Hopkinson, M.D.
Executive Vice President, Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer

Craig Hopkinson, M.D., serves as Alkermes’ Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Hopkinson leads the company’s Discovery, Pharmaceutical Development, Early Stage Clinical Development, Late Stage Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, PMO and Medical Affairs functions. He is responsible for the strategic development and execution of clinical development programs for the company’s pipeline of drug candidates.

Dr. Hopkinson has more than 25 years of experience building and leading clinical development organizations and medical affairs groups. He has led multidisciplinary development teams in a range of therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, oncology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular conditions, inflammation, genetic diseases, hematology and neurodegenerative diseases. Before joining Alkermes in 2017, Dr. Hopkinson served as Senior Vice President of Medicines Development and Head of Global Medical Affairs at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Prior to this role, Dr. Hopkinson held various leadership positions at Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Elan Pharmaceuticals, Actelion Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Albireo Pharma, before its acquisiton by Ipsen.

Dr. Hopkinson earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of the Orange Free State in South Africa. 

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EVP, Chief Operating Officer
Blair Jackson
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer


Blair Jackson serves as Alkermes’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Mr. Jackson is responsible for Alkermes’ strategic planning and corporate services, leading the organization’s global Operations, Quality, Finance, Information Technology, and Corporate Planning functions. 

Mr. Jackson has more than 20 years of diverse scientific and business development experience within the pharmaceutical industry. Since joining Alkermes in 1999, Mr. Jackson has served in a variety of roles in both a scientific and corporate capacity, including his most recent roles as Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Synchronicity Pharma. 

Mr. Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alberta, and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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SVP, Corporate Development
Michael Landine
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development


Mike Landine serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. In this role, Mr. Landine is responsible for overseeing the organization’s Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations functions. 

Prior to leading Corporate Development, Mr. Landine served as Alkermes’ Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from 1988 until 1998. He served on the Board of Directors of Kopin Corporation from 2003 to 2019 and the Board of Directors of GTC Biotherapeutics from 2005 to 2010.

Mr. Landine earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Bentley University and previously was a Certified Public Accountant.

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SVP, Chief Commercial Officer
Todd Nichols
Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer


Todd Nichols serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, Mr. Nichols leads the Sales, Marketing, Market Access, and Commercial Operations functions and is responsible for setting and executing the commercial strategy to assure broad awareness of and access to Alkermes’ medicines. 

Mr. Nichols has more than 20 years of extensive commercial experience in the biopharmaceutical sector, spanning multiple therapeutic areas. Before joining Alkermes in 2019, he served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Inflammation and Immunology at Celgene, where he was responsible for developing and managing all aspects of U.S. commercial planning, brand P&L, strategy development, go-to-market modeling and launch execution for ozanimod. Prior to this role, Mr. Nichols held various marketing and sales leadership positions at Biogen, Merck and Schering-Plough (acquired by Merck in 2009).

Mr. Nichols earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Elon University.

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SVP, Policy and Government Relations
Peter Norman
Senior Vice President, Policy and Government Relations


Peter Norman serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations. In this role, Mr. Norman leads the U.S. Policy and Government Relations function for the company, which includes federal and state initiatives as well as programs with professional and patient organizations.

Mr. Norman has more than 20 years of experience in legislative and regulatory efforts on behalf of biopharmaceutical companies. Before joining Alkermes in 2013, he was the Head of the Washington, D.C. office for Eisai, Inc. and held various senior positions for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO).

Mr. Norman earned a bachelor’s degree in History at Adrian College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.

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SVP, Operations and EHS
Declan O’Connor
Senior Vice President, Operations and Environment, Health and Safety (EHS)


Declan O’Connor serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Operations and EHS. In this role, Mr. O’Connor leads Alkermes’ manufacturing operations at the Athlone, Ireland and Wilmington, Ohio sites, as well as its commercial supply chain function. He is also responsible for the strategic development of operations activities and site infrastructure development.

Mr. O’Connor has more than 25 years of experience in commercial operations, supply chain, and general management. He joined Alkermes as Vice President and General Manager in Athlone upon completion of the merger between Elan Drug Technologies (EDT) and Alkermes, Inc. in September 2011. Prior to this role, Mr. O’Connor held several senior operations positions for Elan Corporation Plc including Head of Global Supply Chain, Vice President of Finance EDT and Head of Finance U.S. Operations.

Mr. O’Connor earned a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from University College Dublin, Ireland and is a Chartered Accountant.

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SVP, Pharm. and Early Stage Development
Bhaskar Rege, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Pharmaceutical and Early Stage Clinical Development


Bhaskar Rege, Ph.D. serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical and Early Stage Clinical Development. In this role, Dr. Rege leads the DMPK, Clinical Pharmacology, Bioanalytical Sciences, Translational Medicine, Non-Clinical Safety Evaluation and Pharmaceutical Development functions.

Dr. Rege has over 20 years of pharmaceutical experience in multiple therapeutic areas and has led over 30 clinical trials. Before joining Alkermes as Global Development Lead in 2017, Dr. Rege held several roles at Eisai Pharmaceuticals, including serving as the Global Head of Clinical Pharmacology and Translation Medicine. Prior to this role, he held various positions in clinical pharmacology at Bristol Myers Squibb and Seattle Genetics.

Dr. Rege earned a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University and Bachelor of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Sciences from The Bombay College of Pharmacy.

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SVP, Medical Affairs
Kanchan Relwani, M.D.
Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs


Kanchan Relwani, M.D. serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs. In this role, Dr. Relwani leads the Medical Affairs organization, including oversight of the Medical Strategy, Medical Operations & Alliances, Heath Economics and Outcomes Research, Medical Information and Medical Science Liaison functions.

Dr. Relwani has more than 10 years of experience building and leading successful medical affairs teams within the pharmaceutical industry. Before joining Alkermes in 2017, Dr. Relwani was the Head of Medical and Clinical Affairs at Stallergenes Greer and held leadership roles on the North American and Global Medical Affairs teams at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. She has led launch efforts and medical and clinical teams in multiple therapeutic areas, including neuroscience and oncology.

Dr. Relwani earned a bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery from Pune University in India, as well as a Diploma in Ophthalmic Medicine and Surgery from the National Institute of Ophthalmology in India. She also completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School.

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SVP, Human Resources
Stephen Schiavo
Senior Vice President, Human Resources


Stephen Schiavo serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President of Human Resources. In this role, he leads the Human Resources function, with responsibility for global compensation and benefits, talent acquisition, HR business partnering, employee engagement, organization and leadership development and diversity & inclusion.

Mr. Schiavo has almost 20 years of HR Business Partner and HR leadership experience helping to develop and grow organizations, teams and individuals. Before joining Alkermes in 2018, he was Vice President of Human Resources for Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where he served as the Head of their HR Business Partner function. Prior to joining Vertex, Mr. Schiavo worked in the Financial Services industry where he held a number of senior human resource positions at Prudential Financial and Cigna.

Mr. Schiavo earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Boston University and a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations degree from Cornell University.

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SVP, Business Development
James Schoener
Senior Vice President, Business Development and Alliance Management

Jim Schoener serves as Alkermes’ Senior Vice President, Business Development and Alliance Management. In this role, Mr. Schoener is responsible for the organization’s Business Development initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, licensing opportunities, business strategy and contract negotiations, as well as business relations with partner companies.

Mr. Schoener has 25 years of business development experience within the biopharmaceutical industry. He joined the Business Development team at Alkermes in 1998. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Schoener served as Director of Business Development at Collegium Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for in- and out-licensing, alliance management activities and commercial supply agreement negotiations. Mr. Schoener returned to Alkermes in 2006, and has held several roles of increasing responsibility over the last 17 years. Earlier in his career, Mr. Schoener held roles in sales, marketing and financial analysis in the specialty chemicals industry.

Mr. Schoener earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Miami University and holds a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University.

 

Board of Directors


Richard F. Pops
Chairman and CEO
Emily Peterson Alva
Shane M. Cooke
David A. Daglio
Richard B. Gaynor, M.D.
Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., NACD.DC
Nancy S. Lurker
Brian P. McKeon
Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D.
Andy Wilson
Christopher I. Wright, M.D., Ph.D.

 

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At Alkermes, we are united in our mission. We pursue great science with deep compassion to make a real impact in the lives of patients, families and communities.