US biopharma company Gilead Sciences has named Christi L. Shaw as the new chief executive officer of its subsidiary Kite, a California-based cell therapy company, which the former acquired for about $11.9 billion in 2017.

Christi L. Shaw, who will also become a member of the senior leadership team of Gilead Sciences, is said to have deep experience in offering commercial, medical, financial, strategic, and operations leadership in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Commenting on the appointment of the new Kite CEO, Daniel O’Day – chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, said: “We conducted an extensive search for a new leader at Kite and we believe that Christi’s unique set of skills will allow us to continue to build on our leadership position in cell therapy.

“Christi’s vast experience across complex therapeutic areas, and particularly in oncology, will serve Kite very well. She is clearly a leader who will bring teams and individuals together and I am confident she will build upon the entrepreneurial spirit at Kite as we seek to help more people with cancer around the world.”

Currently, the new Kite CEO is working as senior vice president (VP) of US pharma giant Eli Lilly &. Co. (Lilly), and president of Lilly Bio-Medicines. She is also serving as a board member of Avantor and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), apart from being an advisor to the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

Before joining Lilly, Christi L. Shaw most recently was the US country head and president of Swiss pharma giant Novartis and North American head of Novartis Oncology. The new Kite CEO has a BA in Business Administration from Iowa State University followed by an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.

Christi L. Shaw, commenting on her appointment as the new Kite CEO, said: “Kite’s vision of transformational drug development – and of curing cancer – is one that I am extremely passionate about.

“I look forward to working with the many talented individuals in this organization, as we change the way cancer is treated and bring forward important, life-saving therapies.”

  Christi L. Shaw, Daniel O’Day, Gilead Sciences, Kite Pharma, USA