Alan Kessman– Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Kessman was appointed the Chief Executive Officer and President in 1999. His prior management experience has been primarily in the telecommunications and healthcare communications field. His experience includes various leadership and board positions with some of the leading telecommunications companies including Rolm Corp., Octel Communications Corp. and Executone Information Systems, Inc. He was named one of the Entrepreneurs of the Year in 1987 by Venture magazine. Additionally, Mr. Kessman has successfully established and led two start-ups and two turnaround situations.
Howard B. Johnson– President and Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Johnson has been our President since January 2004 and our Chief Financial Officer since March 2002. Prior to joining the company, he was a Vice President and a consultant for Nutrition 21, Inc. from November 2001 until March 2002. From May 1999 until February 2001, he was Chief Financial Officer of IBS Interactive, Inc. (now Digital Fusion, Inc.). From 1996 to 1999, he founded and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MedWorks Corporation, a privately held medical device company. From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Johnson was a seed investor in and a member of the board of directors of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held company developing therapeutic products for spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. From 1983-1993, Mr. Johnson was an investment banker at PaineWebber Group, Inc.
Ann Cahill — Vice President, Clinical Development
Ms. Cahill joined Vion in January 2002 as Director, Clinical Affairs. In October 2003, she was promoted to Senior Director, Clinical Affairs. Prior to joining the Company, she was a member of the project management group of Schering-Plough Corporation for five years, including leadership roles in clinical affairs for hepatitis and medical oncology. From 1985-1997, Ms. Cahill was a physician associate in a medical oncology practice. Ms. Cahill received her B.S. degree from Duke University and her Physician Associate degree from Yale University.
William Hahne, MD.– Vice President Medical
Dr. Hahne was named Vice President, Medical on February 4, 2008. Prior to joining Vion, Dr. Hahne was Vice President, Clinical Development, and then Vice President of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs of Celsion Corporation from January 2006 to December 2007. From 2003 to 2005, Dr. Hahne was Vice President of Clinical Development for CuraGen Corporation. From 1986 to 2002, Dr. Hahne worked in various positions in medical affairs for Glaxo Inc., Merrell Dow Research Institute, Marion Merrell Dow, Hoechst Marion Rousel, and Eisai, Inc. Dr. Hahne received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and conducted his residency in general surgery at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ivan King, Ph.D.– Vice President, Research and Development
Dr. King has served as Vice President, Biology since October 1995. From 1990 to 1995, he was a Section Leader in the Department of Tumor Biology at Schering-Plough Research Institute in charge of the Cell Biology and In Vivo Biology groups where he was responsible for identifying targets, developing high throughput assays, evaluating in vitro and in vivo activities of drug candidates and recommending candidates for clinical development. Dr. King’s first industrial position was as a Senior Research Scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Karen Schmedlin — Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer
Ms. Schmedlin was named Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, in March 2006 and Corporate Secretary in April 2001. She joined Vion in October 2000 as Controller. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Schmedlin held various finance and marketing positions at Executone Informations Systems, Inc. From 1984 to 1990, Ms Schmedlin was an auditor with Arthur Anderson & Co.
James Tanguay, Ph.D. – Vice President, Chemistry, Manufacturing & Control
Dr. Tanguay was named Vice President, Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control in April 2007. He has over 18 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in the areas of Research and Development, Quality Control, Technology Transfer, and commercial production and logistics. Prior to joining Vion, he was the Vice President of Technical Operations for Kos Pharmaceuticals (now part of Abbott Laboratories). Prior to joining Kos, Dr. Tanguay held various positions at Boehringer Ingelheim in both the pharmaceutical product and chemical divisions. From 1989 to 1991, he worked for the Richardson-Vicks division of Procter and Gamble. He began his career working for NIOSH. Dr. Tanguay holds a BA degree in chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross and a Ph.D. degree in chemistry from the University of Connecticut.
Tanya Lewis — Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Ms. Lewis was named Vice President, Regulatory Affairs in December 2008. Prior to joining Vion, Ms. Lewis headed her own consulting firm from August 2008 to November 2008. From October 2007 to June 2008, Ms. Lewis was employed by Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where she held increasing roles of responsibility in regulatory affairs . From April 2007 to June 2008, Ms. Lewis was Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, Oncology; from April 2006 to April 2007, she was Director of Regulatory Affairs, Oncology; from November 2005 to April 2006, she was Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs, Oncology; from September 2004 to November 2005, she served as Associate Director of Inflammation and from June 2003 to April 2004, she was Associate Director of Cardiovascular.