Enoch Kariuki Velosbio: Business Insider: A Kenyan, Dr Enoch Kariuki, has been named the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a US pharmaceutical company that develops first-class cancer therapies for tumours.
By his appointment, Kariuki will lead all finance-related issues of VelosBio, from the firm’s headquarters in San Diego, California.
Commenting on his appointment, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VelosBio, Dave Johnson said “Enoch brings to VelosBio more than 10 years of experience leading high-performing teams in the private and public sectors. He has a proven track record of success on both the operating and finance sides of our industry, and is precisely the type of high-quality individual we are recruiting as we grow our company.”
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He added that Kariuki will be an asset to VelosBio and its leadership team.
On his part, Kariuki said “I am excited to join VelosBio at such a dynamic time. The company is developing multiple cancer therapies utilising its proprietary technology to target ROR1, a novel oncology target, and I look forward to working with Dave and the rest of the senior management and scientific teams to help bring innovative therapies to cancer patients.”
The Kenyan is an accomplished finance executive with experience in healthcare strategy, life sciences investment banking, venture capital, and business development.
Before he joined VelosBio, Kariuki was a Senior Vice-President, Corporate Development at Synthorx Inc, where he led the company’s $151 million initial public offerings.
Before Synthorx, Kariuki was the Vice-President at H.I.G. Capital, where he served on several boards. He has also served as Senior Associate at Leerink Partners and Associate Director at UBS Investment Bank.
Kariuki holds a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Research and Development strategy and analytics at Bristol-Myers Squibb. He was a practicing pharmacist before transitioning to the industry. He also holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a PharmD from Texas Southern University.
Meanwhile, the American stock exchange NASDAQ has welcomed the appointment of Kariuki as CFO.
“NASDAQ congratulates Dr Enoch Kariuki, new CFO of VelosBio,” the stock exchange said in a message projected on an outdoor big screen.