BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PAUL R. FONTEYNE
CHAIRMAN
With more than 30 years of global pharmaceutical experience, Paul Fonteyne’s career spans over three decades of leadership roles across North America and Europe with companies including Boehringer-Ingelheim, Merck, and Abbott Laboratories. Until 2018, he was President and CEO, Boehringer-Ingelheim USA. He is past board member of the National Pharmaceutical Council and PhRMA, He serve on the boards of ResTORbio Inc., Gelesis Inc, and Ypsomed AG, Mr. Fonteyne holds an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, and a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Brussels, Belgium.
FOUZIA LAGHRISSI-THODE, M.D.
DIRECTOR
Fouzia Laghrissi-Thode, was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of DalCor Pharmaceuticals in April 2018. Most recently, Dr. Laghrissi-Thode was Vice-President at AstraZeneca of the US Renal-Cardiology Therapeutic Area. In her previous roles she led the global product and portfolio strategy of the cardiovascular, metabolism and renal therapeutic areas at AstraZeneca and Roche. She has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry leadership experience in US and Europe through working in clinical development, global strategic marketing, business development, licensing and M&A. She is a director on the board of Minerva Neurosciences Inc., Nuro Corp. and DalCor Pharmaceuticals. She served as a board member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Europe and was recognized by HBA in 2012 for her work in developing and promoting women leadership in healthcare. From 1992 to 2014, she held an appointment as faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Dr. Laghrissi-Thode is board certified in Psychiatry and holds Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Tours School of Medicine in France.
HENRY D’ABO
DIRECTOR
Henry d’Abo is an experienced bio-tech investor, who has been involved in a number of different Cambridge based start-up companies. Mr. d’Abo serves a director at DalCor and runs his own investment portfolio and has extensive property and agricultural interests in the UK and Germany. Previously, he owned a controlling interest in a US based CRO which was sold in 2000.
LAURENCE RULLEAU
DIRECTOR
Laurence Terrisse Rulleau is currently a Partner at CTI Life Sciences Fund. Previously, Dr. Rulleau served as a life sciences analyst covering the Canadian life sciences sector for more than 10 years. She worked at different firms including Desjardins securities, Yorkton securities and Blackmont securities where she was involved in numerous mergers and acquisitions as well as IPOs. Dr. Rulleau was ranked the number one Canadian life sciences analyst by the Starmine survey (a Thomson Reuters Company) and number one independent analyst by Brendon Wood survey. Dr. Rulleau was also CEO of HLA-G Technologies a biotechnology start-up based in France and more recently she served as Vice-President Business Development of Univalor, the technology transfer office of Montreal’s university and affiliated schools. Under her responsibility at Univalor in the last 3 years, more than 40 licenses with the industry were signed and 8 companies started. Dr. Rulleau has a master’s degree in biology from The Université du Quebec à Montreal (UQAM) and a doctorate from Montreal University executed at Montreal Clinical Research Institute.
MARK SMITH
DIRECTOR
Véronique Missout
DIRECTOR
Véronique Missout earned a master’s degree in management sciences from HEC – Université de Liège, Belgium.
Didier Leconte
DIRECTOR
Marc Afilalo, Dr
DIRECTOR
Dr. Afilalo is an International Expert Consultant and Advisor, and is the recipient of multiple honors and awards.
Samer A. Katerji
DIRECTOR
Mr. Samer A. Katerji is an Independent Non-Executive Director and award-winning Senior Investment Banker with over 25 years’ progressive advisory experience with leading regional and international financial institutions. As the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trussbridge Advisory (DIFC) Limited, one the UAE’s leading investment banking boutiques, he is currently responsible for leading a team that provides strategic and financial advisory services to Middle Eastern corporates and family-owned conglomerates on matters related to M&A, capital raising, capital restructuring and strategic growth. Throughout his career, Mr. Katerji has been involved in originating and executing transactions in excess of US$30 bn across products and sectors, many of which have been recognized through various awards. He has extensive knowledge and experience in multiple sectors, including contracting, logistics, transportation, banking, healthcare, and consumer. His value proposition for companies and Boards is centered around supporting the development and review of strategic plans; identifying challenges/issues; proposing actionable measures to address them; and providing financial advisory expertise focused on achieving business objectives, optimizing capital structures and financial performance. Previously, Mr. Katerji led Citigroup’s Financial Institution and Financial Sponsors Advisory Practice and was responsible for investment banking coverage for key clients in the Middle East including sovereign wealth funds, government related entities and family offices. During his tenure at Citigroup, he also played a key role in growing the team and the development of the franchise, which was recognized by Euromoney as the best Investment Bank in the UAE (2011) and best Investment Bank in the Middle East (2012). Prior to Citigroup, he was a founding member of the investment banking team at SHUAA Capital PSC where he led the execution of several landmark equity capital markets transactions with a total value US$7 bn. Mr. Katerji serves as a Board Member and Member of the Audit and Investment Committees, Air Arabia PJSC, UAE. He is also Member of GCC Board of Directors Institute and Member of Arab Bankers Association of North America.
He holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
