US-based healthcare company Johnson & Johnson has lost two of its most experienced investors with Renee Ryan (pictured) becoming CEO at its portfolio company Cala Health and Germany-based Bayer hiring Marianne De Backer to manage its acquisitions and licensing deals.
Wearable neuromodulation device manufacturer Cala Health had completed a $50m series C round in May this year backed by corporates Alphabet, Novartis and the Novartis and Qualcomm-backed DRX Capital as well as Johnson & Johnson unit Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC.
Ryan, a GCV Rising Stars award winner, had spent eight years at J&J, the oldest corporate venturing unit in healthcare stretching back to 1973, after nearly 15 years in healthcare-focused investment banking. She said of her move: “It is a great story with five strategic investors.”
De Backer joined J&J’s Janssen subsidiary in 1991 and transitioned from the lab bench through technology licensing worldwide to leading a commercial business in Europe to late stage pharmaceutical deal making and corporate venture investing.
Stefan Oelrich, head of Bayer’s pharmaceutical division, told Endpoints News: “Her breadth of experience in successfully forming and managing external alliances will be one of the key drivers for Bayer’s continued growth, ultimately aimed at providing new medicines and solutions to patients.”
