Leadership
Team

Mike Stella took the reins of Ascend as CEO in May 2023 with the responsibility of managing the company for both short- and long-term growth and sustainability. He has more than 20 years of experience originating and developing portfolio and platform solutions in the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining the Ascend team, he served as COO, CBO, and Director for Cognate BioServices (purchased by Charles River Laboratories), and as Director of Manufacturing Operations at Cell Genesys.

Wes McConnell joined Ascend as its founding CFO in 2021, after serving as Director of Finance at Bavarian Nordic since 2004. McConnell has 20 years leadership experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including leading the building out of multiple viral vector based multi-product GMP manufacturing facilities with key contributions to customer negotiations, partnership and licensing deals, and multiple M&A projects. He is a dual US and German citizen and has worked across the US, the UK, Denmark, and Germany.

Dr. Markus Hörer joined Ascend in the transition from Freeline Therapeutics in February 2023 as the Chief Scientific Officer, leading the company CMC innovation and research and development (R&D) strategy. He was an original co-founder of Freeline (March 2015), serving as Chief Technology Officer and GmbH Managing Director. Markus applies more than 30 years of experience working in AAV biology as well as virus-based biologics development experience to tracking the latest research and process and analytical developments and keeping a pulse on enabling technologies and partnership opportunities.

Scott Law joined Ascend as Chief Operations Officer in 2024 with responsibility for streamlining operational excellence as the company evolves. Prior to joining, he gained more than 30 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical industry across the development, manufacture, and commercialization of therapeutic products. During this time, Scott has held numerous leadership positions, including senior manufacturing roles at Baxter, Emergent BioSolutions, Ferndale Laboratories, and Pfizer. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Telix Pharmaceuticals.

Scott Broughton joined the Ascend team in August of 2024 to take responsibility for the commercial structure and strategy of the company. Most recently serving in leadership roles in cell and gene therapy manufacturing, Scott draws on decades of experience in planning, developing, and maintaining business relationships to meet operational targets. With early career experience in the technology and tools sectors, he has worked to align these global experiences into helping his teams exceed goals while they are helping customers advance medicine.

Karl Heller is the Munich Site Head for Ascend, guiding the activities for this critical location. He came to Ascend through the acquisition of Freeline Therapeutics GmbH, where he served as VP of CMC Development and Managing Director, drawing on just under three decades of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with core expertise in R&D, tech transfer and cGMP manufacturing. Karl is an expert at establishing process and analytical development groups in companies of varying sizes, as well as being an entrepreneur and founding his own company (VIVACS GmbH) to offer services in the field of vaccine design and development.

With over 30 years of operations experience in the viral vector and cell and gene therapies industries. He is the Senior Vice President of Technical Operations and Head of Site at the Ascend Alachua location. Prior to joining the team, he served as Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Sangamo Therapeutics and held positions with AGCT and Beacon. In addition to expertise in tech transfer, process development, and site operations, he brings his extensive progressive leadership experience in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Iain McGhee brings more than 30 years of quality expertise across vaccines, biologics and AAVs to his role as VP, Quality at Ascend. He came to Ascend from Freeline Therapeutics, where he was also VP of Quality. Prior to this, he was Head of Quality at ADC Biotechnology Ltd., and Senior Director Supply Chain Quality for Seqirus, as well as time as Global Quality Operations Manager at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics. His unmatched prowess in designing, building, and starting up new and refurbished facilities and has made him critical in several M&A projects and post-merger integrations of quality systems.

Ali Khan joined Ascend in October of 2022 as Global VP of IT, drawing on more than 20 years of delivering IT solutions for implementation throughout the drug development lifecycle to drive the IT services of the company. Ali was formerly a freelance consultant in the regulation and compliance of IT for the pharmaceutical sector, as well as time in the Senior IT Director role at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies Europe. He is passionate about managing and implementing technology aligned with industry standards and producing innovative solutions to both technological and executive leadership challenges.

Gerry Kennedy joined Ascend as Senior Vice President, General Counsel in 2024 from Lonza where he was the UK General Counsel. With more than 20 years of experience providing commercial legal advice in the pharmaceutical industry, Gerry has worked closely with a wide variety of teams including Quality, Finance, Supply Chain, Sales, and Business Development. He is experienced in contract negotiations and technology licenses for the development and manufacture of customer products in Europe, the US and Singapore.

Michael Pinaud joined Ascend as Senior VP of Business Operations in July of 2024 with responsibility for the operational progression of the company, including further aligning the global sites. He leverages more than 20 years’ experience in manufacturing operations management across the biosecurity, pharmaceutical, and cell and gene therapy industries a hands-on approach to continuous improvement tools and methodologies. Michael was previously director of operations at various CDMOs and manufacturing firms in the industry, including Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Cognate BioServices, and Vor Bio.