Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) has announced several executive transitions and appointments aimed at aligning the company’s leadership structure with its strategic priorities. Andrew Grethlein, Ph.D., who served as executive vice president and chief operating officer, will depart the company on October 15, 2025. Jim Ziegler, the executive vice president and chief commercial officer, will also depart on the same date.
In place of Jim Ziegler, Ahmed Elnawawi ("Nawawi") has been appointed as the new executive vice president and chief commercial officer, effective October 20, 2025. Nawawi brings a wealth of experience, having most recently served as senior vice president and U.S. commercial head at Stemline Therapeutics, where he successfully led the U.S. commercial organization, contributing to significant topline and bottom-line growth.
Additionally, Geron has appointed three other seasoned executives to its leadership team: Shanthakumar ("Shantha") Tyavanagimatt as senior vice president and chief technical officer, Dawn Schottlandt as senior vice president of investor relations and corporate affairs, and Bryan Ridgell as senior vice president of portfolio and project management and chief of staff.
Shantha Tyavanagimatt brings more than 25 years of global leadership across drug development, CMC, and technical operations, with a proven record of building high-performing teams and forging strong partnerships to deliver transformative therapies to patients. Dawn Schottlandt, with over 20 years of experience in investor relations and corporate affairs within the life sciences industry, has supported both private and public companies through various milestones. Bryan Ridgell, who has more than 20 years of experience in program and portfolio management within the biotechnology industry, has led global cross-functional teams across R&D, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and clinical operations.
Geron's president and CEO, Harout Semerjian, expressed his confidence in the incoming leaders, noting their extensive U.S. and global hematology-oncology experience and a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, which he views as critical to the company's growth and success.
The company's first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, Rytelo® (imetelstat), is approved in the United States and the European Union for the treatment of certain adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with transfusion-dependent anemia. Geron is also conducting a pivotal phase 3 clinical trial of imetelstat in jak-inhibitor relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis, as well as studies in other myeloid hematologic malignancies.
The changes in the executive leadership team come at a pivotal time for Geron as it aims to expand the reach and impact of Rytelo while strengthening its foundation for potential future portfolio expansion. Following these announcements, the company's shares moved -3.05%, and are now trading at a price of $1.27. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.
