BioPharma

Venter steps down as CEO of Human Longevity

J. Craig Venter will step down as CEO of his ambitious genomics-driven biotech Human Longevity, effective January 9.

jcvheadshot2 J Craig Venter

J. Craig Venter, cofounder of Human Longevity

Women typically live longer than men, but since its inception the genomics-driven healthcare company Human Longevity Inc. (HLI) has been run by its famous male founder — J. Craig Venter.

That will all change in five days time, according to a surprise news release issued on Wednesday.

Venter will step down as CEO on January 9, to be replaced by former GE Healthcare executive Cynthia (Cindy) Collins. Collins will also join the HLI board.

The news comes just one month after Venter revealed he had undergone surgery for prostate cancer after his own genomic testing services found he had an aggressive form of the disease.

A company spokesperson said Venter’s health played no role in today’s announcement.

Venter will stay involved as a scientific strategy advisor and executive chairman of the board, helping to usher in a new era for the San Diego, California-based company.

“Cindy’s combination of innovative business leadership, coupled with commercialization and operations acumen in a variety of life science arenas, is the perfect skill set to bring our vision of high quality, genomic-powered products to the global marketplace,” Venter noted in the release.

Cynthia Collins, incoming CEO of Human Longevity

Cynthia Collins, incoming CEO of HLI

Collins has over three decades of life science experience, most recently serving as the CEO and general manager of GE Healthcare’s Cell Therapy and Purification and Analysis Businesses.

“I cannot imagine a more perfect union of my combined experience in diagnostics, therapeutics, and life sciences and in leading organizations through multiple phases of their life cycles to create value,” Collins stated. “I believe my capabilities and experience, combined with Dr. Venter’s scientific success and vision, are highly complementary and will create a solid foundation for HLI’s future.”

Founded in 2013, Human Longevity’s stated mission is to compile “the world’s most comprehensive database on human genotypes and phenotypes to tackle the diseases associated with aging-related human biological decline.”  To date, the company has raised $300 million through two private financing rounds.

Photos: Human Longevity

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