Management

Kevin Johnson, BSc PhD FRSA
Chief Executive Officer

Kevin began his career in the biotech industry when he joined Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) soon after its formation in 1990, directing the company's pioneering research in the field of monoclonal antibodies. In 1997 he was appointed to the Board, where he held the posts of Research Director and Chief Technology Officer. Kevin led both the development of CAT's leading platform technologies, and also their application to the discovery of the world's largest portfolio of human antibody drugs, including the first such drug, D2E7 (Humira™) to reach the market. He played key roles in the company's IPO, and in the negotiation of some of Europe's largest biotech alliances with US biotech and pharmaceutical companies. An internationally recognised industry leader, Kevin has served on a variety of associations and advisory bodies, and has lectured in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Prior to joining CAT, Kevin held positions at the University of Cambridge and the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Cambridge.

In addition to his role as Chief Executive of PanGenetics, Kevin is a Venture Advisor at Index Ventures, and a General Partner at Ash Biotech Consulting.
 

Duncan Casson , PhD
Chief Operating Officer

Duncan has eighteen years industry experience in the development of biologics including antibodies, recombinant proteins and autologous therapies. His most recent position was as VP programme management and manufacturing at Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) where he was responsible for strategic and operational management of all of CAT's programme management and manufacturing. This included setting up a programme management system for CAT's internal programmes (to BLA filing or partnership) and negotiating all of CAT's outsourced manufacturing contracts.

Prior to joining CAT Duncan spent 8 years at Genzyme both in the USA and UK as Senior Project Manager with responsibilities for the development of hyaluronic acid products (Seprafilm®) and cartilage replacement therapies (Carticel®), both of which are now significant revenue earners for Genzyme. Duncan is also an assessor for the UK DTI 2005 funding round and has served on the BIA manufacturing committee. He has a BSc in biochemistry, a PhD in biochemistry and microbiology, and has post-doctoral experience in biochemical engineering.
 

Geoff Race, FCMA MBA
Chief Financial Officer

Prior to joining PanGenetics, Geoff Race was Chief Executive Officer of CareX SA, a biopharma’ specialised in the discovery and development of drugs in the area of Metabolic Diseases based in Strasbourg, France.  Geoff was responsible for the company’s successful merger with 7TM Pharma, a Danish company with a focus in similar disease areas. Prior  to joining CareX, Geoff was Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Adprotech Ltd, a ‘spin out’ of SmithKline Beecham founded in 1997, based near Cambridge, UK which focused on the development of anti inflammatory products. Before joining Adprotech Ltd, Geoff was Finance Director of Bioprocessing Ltd and participated in the negotiations and the sale of the company to Millipore Corporation in 1999. Geoff’s career encompasses several general management roles, Board involvement in ‘large’ industrial settings as well as ‘early stage’ companies including exposure to sectors such as telecommunications and the automotive sector. Geoff is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and successfully gained his MBA from Durham University Business School in 1994.
 

Before joining PanGenetics as SVP of Business Development in May 2006, Arnoud spent 14 years in the Swiss pharmaceutical and biotech industry.  Having received his Ph.D. from the Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Groningen, the Netherlands, Arnoud joined the Pharma Research Department of Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel in 1992, where he spent eight years in several management positions.  After that big pharma experience, he switched to biotech and was involved in setting up the Basel branch of the start-up Morphochem AG, where he served as VP of Operations for three years.  He then joined Actelion Pharmaceuticals where, during the two years prior to moving back to Holland, he served as Director of Business Development, in which role he was responsible for all in-licensing Search & Evaluation programs.  In addition he was involved in Actelion's Investor Relations activities.