Mike Stella announced as the successor to founding CEO, Tim Funnell

Posted: 27 March 2023

Ascend Advanced Therapies launched out of stealth mode with a fundraise of over $130M in early 2023. Shortly thereafter, Mike Stella was announced as the successor to founding CEO, Tim Funnell.

Very pleased to announce the Ascend Gene & Cell Therapies fundraise of over $130M, bringing on board a superb syndicate of sophisticated investors; and the appointment of my successor as CEO: Mike Stella, who has over 25 years' experience of building advanced manufacturing companies.

TIM FUNNELL

Mike brings more than 25 years' experience of building advanced manufacturing companies to creating a new, streamlined model with a more adaptable approach to the gene and cell therapy services market at Ascend. He is critically focused on creating a positive team environ- ment with a long-term mindset to balancing the quality, potency and yield of AAV gene therapies.

I am delighted to work alongside our team here at Ascend Gene & Cell Therapies and celebrate launch day together! We are excited to bring a new, streamlined model and adaptable approach to the gene and cell therapy space and thank all our investors for their support. Ascend has been formed by bringing together expert teams who have 'been-there-done-that' and understand that the quality and potency of AAV gene therapies is just as important as yield. Together, we can Aim Higher.

MIKE STELLA