Biotech Executive Meenu Chhabra Karson joins Bedford Group Transearch Advisory Board
February 15, 2024 – The Bedford Group Transearch life sciences has elected Meenu Chhabra Karson to their North American healthcare advisory board. “We are thrilled Meenu Chhabra Karson has decided to join our advisory board,” said Darren Raycroft, co-managing director, North American life sciences for Bedford Group Transearch. “Meenu is one of those special leaders that has and continues to make a positive and meaningful impact on the life sciences industry and the teams she has led, not only through her breadth of executive, scientific, strategic and operational experiences but her genuine and authentic approach to leadership and people. We welcome her and look forward to her guidance and perspective.”
“Karson will join a group of accomplished leaders from across the life sciences and broader healthcare industry that will continue to play an integral role in supporting the evolution of Bedford Group Transearch’s North American healthcare practice,” Mr. Raycroft said.
Ms. Chhabra Karson is a recognized biopharmaceutical leader with a track record of team building, strategic transaction execution, and accelerating value-generating milestones. Since July 2023, she has served as the executive chairperson of a private preclinical-stage company developing novel therapeutics for a portfolio of neurodegenerative diseases including ALS, Parkinson’s Disease, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Since January 2023, Ms. Chhabra-Karson has also served on the board of Macrogenics (MGNX) and is a member of the audit committee. Her previous board appointments include chair of Apexigen Inc. (APGN) and Fore Bio a clinical stage private precision oncology company.
Ms. Chhabra Karson has also served as a biotech CEO for 16 years and has been a life sciences executive for more than 20 years. Driven by her passion for the scientific journey and the positive impact of collaboration, she has raised more than $500 million in capital (public and private) as well as delivered partnerships in value greater than $2 billion.
From 2014 to 2020, Ms. Chhabra Karson served as president and CEO of Proteostasis Therapeutics (PTI) from where she led the company through a successful IPO and subsequent financings to advance the pipeline of novel small molecules drugs for the treatment of cystic fibrosis pipeline to successful completion of Phase 2 studies. She also drove partnerships with Biogen, Astellas and Genentech. Prior to PTI, Ms. Chhabra Karson was president and CEO of Allozyne, Inc. Prior to that, she served as the chief business officer at BioXell SpA, (BXLN) a spin-off from Roche Pharmaceuticals where she led corporate development and financing activities. Ms. Chhabra Karson has also held roles of increasing responsibility at Novartis based in Switzerland.
Serving Life Sciences and Healthcare Clients
With North American life sciences offices based in Toronto, Canada and Cambridge, MA, The Bedford Group provides executive search and talent management solutions to a diverse group of life sciences and healthcare clients, including start-ups, multi-nationals, publicly traded, and private organizations.
As Investors Retreat, Healthcare/Life Sciences Sector Stays Resilient
Healthcare and life science organizations are facing an increasingly complex landscape, with rapid technological advancements, changing regulatory environments, and heightened public scrutiny. As a result, these companies have been turning to executive search firms more than ever to acquire world-class leadership. The most pressing challenge has been finding high-impact, innovative leaders who can navigate this complex terrain and drive meaningful change.
The Bedford Group, led by co-founders and brothers Steven Pezim and Howard Pezim, is a privately held executive search and talent advisory firm. Its services span the spectrum of talent management, including leadership assessment, coaching and development, and compensation advisory, as well as executive, managerial and senior technical recruitment. Established in 1979, The Bedford Group has three offices in Canada: Toronto, Oakville (Ontario), and Vancouver, all of which consult with clients throughout North America and globally.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media