At the Forefront of Change
Leaders
Robert M. Davis
Chris Boerner, PhD
Board of Directors
Belén Garijo
Julie Kim
Miguel Fernández Alcalde
Brad Bailey
Jean-Michel Boers
Jean-Michel Boers has been responsible for the U.S. Human Pharma business since January 2017 as President of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In his role, he has steered the successful growth and development of the company’s primary and specialty care portfolio, while positioning the organization for future indication and product launches in areas of unmet medical need.
After starting his career with a German management consulting firm, Mr. Boers joined Boehringer Ingelheim in 1998 and advanced through diverse international leadership roles, including Corporate Vice President of Marketing and Sales Effectiveness at the global headquarters in Ingelheim Germany, Country Managing Director in France and Head of Human Pharma for a newly formed European regional operating unit. In July 2016, he moved to the US initially heading the Specialty Care franchise before taking leadership of the Human Pharma business in 2017.
Mr. Boers has been appointed as the U.S. Country Managing Director, President and CEO effective August 1, 2020.
Mr. Boers earned an M.A. in Social and Economic History from the University of Nijmegen (Netherlands) and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas.
A citizen of both France and the Netherlands, Jean-Michel lives with his wife Sabine and two of their three sons.
U.S. Country Managing Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Albert Bourla, DVM, Ph. D
Robert A. Bradway
Mike Doustdar
Elcin Barker Ergun
Kyle Gano, Ph. D.
Belén Garijo
Thomas Gibbs
Sebastian Guth, Ph. D.
Alexander Hardy
Ken Keller
Julie Kim
David Loew
Ashley Magargee
Ashley Magargee became chief executive officer of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and a member of Genentech’s Board of Directors in January 2024.
Before that, she served as senior vice president of Genentech’s Commercial Portfolio Organization, where she was responsible for providing strategic enterprise leadership, vision, and direction for the portfolio of Genentech’s products and programs. Specifically, Ashley led the team accountable for the U.S. financial performance and overall patient impact of our portfolio of medicines approved for sale in the U.S., along with our U.S. Product Public Relations and New Product Commercialization functions. Prior to her return to Genentech, Ashley spent seven years in Roche as the General Manager of Roche Singapore and in Basel, leading the Global Product Strategy division for hematology and Global Head of Customer Experience and Insights.
Early in her career, Ashley pursued public service working on health policy for the Democratic Leader of the U.S. Senate, Senator Tom Daschle. Ashley entered the biopharmaceutical industry to pursue her passions in concert: teamwork, innovative science, population health, and their profound impact on patients’ lives. She is also convinced that diverse and inclusive workforces power firm innovation. As former Chair of both the Genentech & APAC Women Professionals, she has driven Genentech and Roche-wide diversity and inclusion progress for over a decade.
Ashley graduated cum laude from Princeton University and earned an MBA from Harvard University.
Chief Executive Officer
Genentech
Tsutomu Nakagawa, Ph. D.
Vasant (Vas) Narasimhan, M.D.
Daniel O'Day
Michael Petroutsas
Tarek Rabah
David Ricks
Steve Schaefer
Pascal Soriot
Jean-Christophe Tellier, M.D.
Chris Viehbacher
Tatsuyuki Yasuno
Senior Executives
Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), representing the nation’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies. Drawing on more than three decades of leadership in government and business, Cantor leads PhRMA’s efforts to advance policies that expand patient access to affordable medicines, accelerate medical innovation, and strengthen America’s global leadership in biopharmaceutical research and development.
Prior to joining PhRMA, Cantor served for more than a decade as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Moelis & Company, a global independent investment bank. In this role, he advised companies and senior executives on strategic business decisions, mergers and acquisitions, and the complex intersection of public policy, global markets, and industry. His experience provides a distinct perspective on the economic, competitive, and policy challenges facing businesses and industries undergoing significant change. He continues to serve on the Moelis & Company Board of Directors.
Before entering investment banking, Cantor served for more than two decades in public office, first in the Virginia House of Delegates and subsequently in the U.S. House of Representatives where he represented Virginia’s 7th Congressional District from 2001 to 2014. He served as House Republican Whip from 2009 to 2011 and House Majority Leader from 2011 to 2014, helping shape the nation’s legislative and economic policy agenda.
Throughout his congressional career, Cantor was a leading advocate for policies supporting medical research, innovation, and patient access to care. He was instrumental in building support for Medicare Part D, which expanded prescription drug coverage for seniors and people with disabilities, and championed the bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, establishing a federal initiative to advance pediatric disease research. His work also helped lay the groundwork for the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act which strengthened federal support for biomedical research and modernized the development and approval of new treatments. Beyond healthcare, Cantor played a leading role in securing passage of the bipartisan JOBS Act, which expanded access to capital for emerging growth companies.
Cantor served as a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Executive Council on Infrastructure, and a member of the US Department of Defense Policy Board.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University, a law degree from William & Mary Law School, and a master’s degree from Columbia University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericcantor/
President and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Zirkelbach
Robert Zirkelbach is an accomplished public affairs executive with more than 20 years of experience shaping the debate and influencing policy on behalf of highly regulated industries and corporations. As Chief Public Affairs Officer & Head of Strategic Initiatives at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Zirkelbach leads public affairs, strategic initiatives and membership on behalf of America’s biopharmaceutical industry.
He oversees integrated public affairs campaigns that advance patient-first solutions, strengthen our health care system and preserve the role of the U.S. as the world leader in biopharmaceutical innovation. Since returning to PhRMA in 2023, he has elevated the industry’s voice in Washington, expanded PhRMA’s membership and spearheaded the organization’s five-year strategic plan.
Previously, Zirkelbach served as Global Head of Issues and Advocacy at ExxonMobil, where he led high-impact advocacy campaigns on issues central to the company’s mission, including climate change and plastic waste. During his tenure, he also oversaw a strategic risk function responsible for identifying and mitigating potential policy, geopolitical and reputation risks facing the company. Zirkelbach served as spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) during the pivotal debate and implementation of the Affordable Care Act. He started his career on Capitol Hill as press secretary for Congressman Jim Nussle (R-IA).
Zirkelbach is a graduate of Central College. He lives with his wife and two children in Washington, DC.
Robby Zirklebach
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robzirk/
Chief Public Affairs Officer & Head of Strategic Initiatives
Elizabeth Carpenter
Elizabeth Carpenter serves as executive vice president of policy and research for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
Carpenter leads policy and research at PhRMA, focusing on policy analysis, original research and policy development. Previously, she spent 10 years at the health policy and business strategy firm, Avalere, most recently serving as president. Prior to joining Avalere, Carpenter was a senior advisor in the health policy practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, where she provided government affairs and public policy support to payers, providers, private exchanges, and states on a wide range of health policy and political issues.
Previously, she served as the associate policy director for the Health Policy Program at the New America Foundation where she led Congressional and media relations during the debate over the ACA and provided educational and technical support to stakeholders, members of Congress and the media. Carpenter started her career on Capitol Hill on the legislative and campaign staffs of Senator Lincoln Chafee (RI).
Elizabeth Carpenter headshot
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethavalere/
Executive Vice President, Policy and Research
Lucy Vereshchagina, PhD
Dr. Lucy Vereshchagina is executive vice president of science and regulatory advocacy at PhRMA. In this role, Dr. Vereshchagina leads PhRMA’s science and regulatory advocacy department supporting PhRMA’s policy, advocacy and science priorities, as well as global regulatory advocacy efforts, including the International Council for Harmonization (ICH). Dr. Vereshchagina was the lead PhRMA negotiator for both PDUFA VII and BsUFA III and testified before Congress on the agreements’ reauthorization.
Prior to joining PhRMA in 2012, Dr. Vereshchagina spent over 12 years with the FDA & Healthcare Practice at an international law firm and the Investigational Drug Branch at the National Cancer Institute. She has a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry, earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Catholic University of America, and completed her post-doctoral studies in molecular biology and immunology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Lucy Vereshchagina
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-vereshchagina-phd-416b27a/
Executive Vice President of Science and Regulatory Advocacy
James C. Stansel
James C. Stansel is executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), where he is responsible for overseeing the organization’s legal team and science and regulatory advocacy department in supporting PhRMA’s policy, advocacy and science priorities and in the development of sound legal policies impacting the pharmaceutical industry.
Stansel previously served as acting general counsel of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), where he was the chief legal officer of HHS, including its sub-agencies the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. At HHS, he also served as deputy general counsel and as counselor to the secretary, where he coordinated with the White House and advised the secretary on the development of health policy.
Immediately prior to joining PhRMA, Stansel was a partner and co-head of Sidley Austin LLP’s Global Life Sciences Team, representing health care manufacturers, providers and insurers, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device manufacturers, hospitals, nursing homes, therapy centers, mental health facilities, health plans and insurers, and consultants. These representations included litigation and investigations, regulatory counseling and policy advocacy on a wide range of health care issues, such as Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, coverage, coding and pricing, promotion of pharmaceuticals and devices, kickbacks, false claims, transparency and corporate integrity.
After graduation from Yale Law School, where he was senior editor on the Yale Law Journal, Stansel served a clerkship with the Honorable Stephen H. Anderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Stansel received a Bachelor of Science in Economics summa cum laude from Brigham Young University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-stansel-5a11506/
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Tracey Merchant
Tracey Merchant is executive vice president of administration and chief financial officer at PhRMA. In this role, Merchant oversees the organization’s finances and operations. She was appointed the chief financial officer of PhRMA in June 2022, having previously served as the association’s vice president of finance and controller for 17 years.
Prior to joining PhRMA, Merchant was the CFO and Sr. Director of Administration at the International Foundation of Election Systems (IFES), providing financial and administrative leadership to 25 international field offices. Prior to IFES, she worked at the AARP as Director of Accounting. Merchant started her career in corporate accounting working in banking and then equipment leasing at Pacificorp Capital where she ascended to controller.
Merchant has extensive experience in for-profits, not-for-profits and government contracting both domestic and international. She is a graduate of the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
Executive Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Renuka Iyer
Renuka Iyer is EVP, Chief People & Culture Officer at PhRMA. In her role, she develops PhRMA’s talent philosophy and implements HR and DEI strategies to drive organizational excellence and employee engagement.
Iyer has over three decades of global experience in human capital management in organizations ranging from start-ups to large companies, in both the commercial and nonprofit sectors. She has held leadership roles with Infor-SoftBrands, Levi Strauss & Co., Population Services International, Grameen Foundation and more recently the World Resources Institute, where she was the Chief Human Resources Officer. She has led diverse teams and worked with multiple countries across the Americas, Asia, Africa and South America.
Iyer is a certified Senior Professional of Human Resources. She has undergraduate degrees in economics and interdisciplinary studies and a master’s in organizational development and knowledge management.
Renuka Iyer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/renukasiyer/
Executive Vice President, Chief People & Culture Officer