AI Therapeutics Inc., a Guilford-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has named Dr. Brigette Roberts as its chief executive officer.
Roberts has more than two decades of experience in healthcare investment and biotechnology entrepreneurship. She has been serving as acting chief executive since May 2021.
During her tenure, Roberts has fortified AI Therapeutics’ founding mission of bringing life-saving drugs to patients with rare diseases, raising more than $28 million in private investment capital to advance its product pipeline, according to an announcement.
Under her leadership, the company initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial for a therapy to treat patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and set the groundwork for multiple Phase 2 studies for conditions such as pulmonary sarcoidosis, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Roberts previously served as an entrepreneur in residence at Fortress Biotech, and she also has a background in healthcare investing.
Roberts said AI Therapeutics has a “tremendous opportunity” to help advance drug treatments for underserved patients suffering from rare diseases.
“There are over 7,000 known rare diseases, which collectively impact more than 25 million Americans,” Roberts said. “The vast majority of these diseases have no approved therapeutic options and disproportionately affect children, often leading to early death. I am honored to lead AI Therapeutics, as we work diligently to improve the prognosis for these patients, one disease at a time.”
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Guilford Savings Bank promotes HR professional
Christine Beirne has been promoted to the role of executive vice president, chief talent and culture officer at GSB.
Beirne started her new position at the Guilford-based bank on Jan. 1. She joined the bank in 2012, and most recently served as its senior vice president, director of human resources.
In her new role, Beirne will develop and implement a human resources strategy. She will be managing talent, performance, training and development, recruiting, benefits, salary administration and internal communications.
Tim Geelan, president and CEO of GSB, said the bank considers culture one of its strongest assets.
“As a result, it is without hesitation that we have created an executive leadership role that pairs our recruitment and our culture priorities,” Geelan said. “Christine, a colleague of nearly a decade and a human resources professional for nearly three decades, was the ideal member of our community to be named in this inaugural role.”
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GSB Wealth Management names new chief investment strategist
GSB Wealth Management recently promoted Brant Walker to chief investment strategist.
Walker joined the Guilford-based investment firm in 2012 as vice president.
In his new position, Walker works with the firm’s highest-net-worth clients and is responsible for overseeing the firm’s portfolio construction process with a focus on the U.S. domestic large cap asset class. He will also co-chair its investment committee.
Ken Russell, GSBWM president and CEO, said he is thrilled to see Walker assume his new role.
“In addition to his 35 years of investment management experience, Brant’s combined passion and knowledge makes our entire team stronger and better equipped to build and manage well diversified portfolios for our clients,” Russell said.
Walker previously worked in the trust department of Connecticut National Bank, and had an 11-year stint at US Trust Company, where he managed more than $500 million in assets.
