Alkermes CEO Richard Pops to Retire

By Chris Stiles • Wednesday, February 25 14:55 • Permanent Link

Alkermes Plc (NASDAQ: ALKS) has made significant changes in its leadership as it announced the retirement of Richard Pops, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 31, 2026. The Board of Directors has appointed Blair Jackson, the current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO effective August 1, 2026. Richard Pops will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Board and act as an advisor to the company’s executive team.

Under Richard Pops' leadership, Alkermes has achieved significant growth, with annual revenues reaching approximately $1.5 billion, primarily driven by medicines developed and commercialized by the company. Alkermes has also completed the acquisition of Avadel Pharmaceuticals PLC, adding an FDA-approved product in the sleep medicine market to its commercial portfolio.

Blair Jackson, who has been with Alkermes since 1999, brings more than 25 years of diverse scientific, operational, and business strategy experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. He has been instrumental in guiding Alkermes through its recent transformation, including the divestment of the company's oncology business, the sale of its Athlone manufacturing facility, and the acquisition of Avadel.

Alkermes has demonstrated its commitment to addressing unmet needs in the neuroscience space, with a strong commercial business and an exciting pipeline. The company is advancing multiple development candidates focused on orexin agonism, including Alixorexton, which has been granted breakthrough therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of narcolepsy type 1.

The company's financial performance reflects its growth trajectory, with annual revenues of approximately $1.5 billion and a workforce of more than 2,000 employees. Alkermes aims to leverage its scientific leadership and create value for shareholders under Blair Jackson's leadership as the new CEO.

As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved 1.31% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $31.63. For more information, read the company's full 8-K submission here.

The above analysis is intended for educational purposes only and was performed on the basis of publicly available data. It is not to be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any buy, sell, or other recommendations mentioned in the article are direct quotations of consensus recommendations from the analysts covering the stock, and do not represent the opinions of Market Inference or its writers. Past performance, accounting data, and inferences about market position and corporate valuation are not reliable indicators of future price movements. Market Inference does not provide financial advice. Investors should conduct their own review and analysis of any company of interest before making an investment decision.