Management Team
Jeffrey Bailey, assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in November 2020, after serving as interim CEO from May 2020 to November 2020. Mr. Bailey joined the Board of Directors in March 2020. Mr. Bailey has an accomplished record in leading both public and private healthcare companies where he has leveraged his diverse leadership experiences in various functional areas including commercial, supply chain and business development, as well as in-licensing and transactions. His experiences include a 20+ year career at Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a tenure as Operating Unit President at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Chief Commercial Officer at King Pharmaceuticals, Chief Operating Officer at Fougera Pharmaceuticals, and Chairman and CEO of Neurovance. Mr. Bailey also served as President and CEO of Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc, taking the company public in 2015. Most recently, he was the CEO of IlluminOss Medical, Inc, which was acquired.
Mr. Bailey has served as Chairman of Aileron Therapeutics since March 2018 and also serves as a board member for Tekla Capital Management. Mr. Bailey received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Rutgers University.
Mr. Plesha has served as President & Chief Commercial Officer for BDSI since he was elevated to the position in December 2017. Scott joined BDSI in August 2015, when he assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
Before joining BDSI, Scott was a senior executive with Salix Pharmaceuticals, holding several significant leadership positions, including head of Gastroenterology Sales Force & Training. Scott played a critical role in building Salix’s commercial team into a leading gastroenterology sales force. During his tenure at Salix, he helped lead the successful launch or relaunch of more than 20 products, driving revenues from a startup commercial organization to $1.6 billion when the company was acquired in 2015. Scott was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the Acquisitions and Integration Team at Salix.
Scott also assumed roles of increasing responsibility in specialty pharmaceutical companies, including Solvay Pharmaceuticals and Oclassen Pharmaceuticals, a division of Watson Laboratories. He has more than 20 years of experience leading commercial organizations and over 30 years of biopharma experience.
Mr. Plesha received his Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Medical Studies from DePauw University.
John Golubieski assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer in November 2021.
Mr. Golubieski brings a very broad level of experience as his career has progressed from PricewaterhouseCoopers to a 16-year career in various finance functions at Bristol-Myers Squibb before taking on senior level finance roles. These roles include Senior VP of Finance of King Pharmaceuticals, CFO at Fougera Pharmaceuticals and then onto Lantheus Medical Imaging as interim CFO setting the groundwork to take the company public with a successful IPO. Most recently, John served as the CFO of IlluminOss Medical, an orthopedic company that was acquired last year. Mr. Golubieski earned an MBA from Rider University as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in both Commerce and Accounting from Rider University.
Mr. Lockhart has been Senior Vice President, Operations for BDSI since January 2018. Prior to being elevated to this role, Joseph served as Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain since joining BDSI in November 2015.
Over the course of his 35-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, Joseph has served in key management and leadership roles. He has extensive operational experience at both the technical and strategic levels, with a particular focus on supply-chain management, outsourcing, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), quality, cost efficiencies, and process improvements.
Prior to joining BDSI, Joseph served as Vice President, Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing at Salix Pharmaceuticals, where he provided strategic management of the company’s formulation development, manufacturing, clinical trial material, and technical operations. During his 15-year tenure at Salix, Joseph held positions of increasing responsibility and contributed to multiple successful NDA submissions, as well as product acquisitions and launches. Prior to his tenure at Salix, Joseph held various operational CMC-related positions with leading pharmaceutical organizations, including Merz Pharma and Baxter Healthcare.
Mr. Lockhart received a BA degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his MBA degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Mr. Ostrander has been SVP, Business Development since joining BDSI in January 2020.
Prior to joining BDSI, Kevin was head of North American Business Development for Glenmark Pharmaceuticals USA, where he successfully expanded the company's generic and brand business portfolios through key strategic partnerships. Before joining Glenmark, Kevin held positions of increasing responsibility in business development, licensing, and corporate development with Sandoz (division of Novartis), Eurand, Watson Pharmaceuticals, and Cardinal Health. He has closed more than 75 transactions, with total valuation exceeding $700 million, with domestic and international partners across a diverse range of therapeutic disease states. Kevin started his career as an R&D scientist, spending 10 years developing novel formulations and manufacturing processes for Sterling Drug, Nycomed, NanoSystems (division of Eastman Kodak), and Ѐlan Drug Delivery. He has published numerous scientific articles in peer-review journals, been an invited speaker at scientific conferences and the US Food and Drug Administration, and is an inventor with multiple US/international patents.
Kevin has nearly 30 years of experience in the biopharma industry with leading global organizations including Sandoz, Mylan, Cardinal Health, Ѐlan, and Nycomed. He has been involved in many functional business areas throughout the pharmaceutical industry, including project management, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, formulation design, technology transfer, device development, and strategic planning.
Mr. Ostrander received his BS degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Albany, and an MS degree in Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs from Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned his MBA in International Business at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Smith has been Chief Medical Officer since joining BDSI in July 2018.
Prior to joining BDSI, Tom served as Chief Medical Officer for 3 companies, including Charleston Laboratories, Inc., Ameritox, LLC, and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. He provided executive oversight for the scientific, medical, and clinical aspects of each business. During his tenure, Dr. Smith successfully developed medical solutions to benefit patients living with chronic and complex diseases.
Tom has more than 2 decades of experience in the biopharma industry with leading global organizations including Teva Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme, and Abbott Laboratories. While primarily focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders, Dr. Smith has also worked across therapeutic areas such as chronic kidney disease, women’s health, respiratory health, oncology, and endocrinology.
Prior to his career in the pharmaceutical industry, Tom was in private practice for 12 years, serving as a thought leader and clinical investigator for several medications indicated for the treatment of headache and migraine.
Dr. Smith earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine and a BS degree from Purdue University. He is a member of several medical societies and has published extensively throughout his career.
Mr. Vollins has been General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary since joining BDSI in November 2018.
Jim is a seasoned public-company and healthcare attorney, with decades of executive experience and a focus on scaling high-quality pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining BDSI, Jim served as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary for Bio Products Laboratory Limited, a global biologics manufacturer, where he served as member of the executive leadership team responsible for developing and executing corporate strategy.
During his 27-year legal career, Jim has held roles of increasing responsibility for a number of prominent pharmaceutical companies, including Grifols Inc., Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc., and Pfizer Inc. Jim’s career highlights include several successful multibillion-dollar M&A transactions. Jim began his legal career as a commercial litigator. He has tried cases and argued appeals in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Jim has a BA degree from Wesleyan University and a JD degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He is a frequent lecturer on US healthcare law.
Management Team
Jeffrey Bailey, assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in November 2020, after serving as interim CEO from May 2020 to November 2020. Mr. Bailey joined the Board of Directors in March 2020. Mr. Bailey has an accomplished record in leading both public and private healthcare companies where he has leveraged his diverse leadership experiences in various functional areas including commercial, supply chain and business development, as well as in-licensing and transactions. His experiences include a 20+ year career at Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a tenure as Operating Unit President at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Chief Commercial Officer at King Pharmaceuticals, Chief Operating Officer at Fougera Pharmaceuticals, and Chairman and CEO of Neurovance. Mr. Bailey also served as President and CEO of Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc, taking the company public in 2015. Most recently, he was the CEO of IlluminOss Medical, Inc, which was acquired.
Mr. Bailey has served as Chairman of Aileron Therapeutics since March 2018 and also serves as a board member for Tekla Capital Management. Mr. Bailey received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Rutgers University.
Mr. Plesha has served as President & Chief Commercial Officer for BDSI since he was elevated to the position in December 2017. Scott joined BDSI in August 2015, when he assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
Before joining BDSI, Scott was a senior executive with Salix Pharmaceuticals, holding several significant leadership positions, including head of Gastroenterology Sales Force & Training. Scott played a critical role in building Salix’s commercial team into a leading gastroenterology sales force. During his tenure at Salix, he helped lead the successful launch or relaunch of more than 20 products, driving revenues from a startup commercial organization to $1.6 billion when the company was acquired in 2015. Scott was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the Acquisitions and Integration Team at Salix.
Scott also assumed roles of increasing responsibility in specialty pharmaceutical companies, including Solvay Pharmaceuticals and Oclassen Pharmaceuticals, a division of Watson Laboratories. He has more than 20 years of experience leading commercial organizations and over 30 years of biopharma experience.
Mr. Plesha received his Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Medical Studies from DePauw University.
John Golubieski assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer in November 2021.
Mr. Golubieski brings a very broad level of experience as his career has progressed from PricewaterhouseCoopers to a 16-year career in various finance functions at Bristol-Myers Squibb before taking on senior level finance roles. These roles include Senior VP of Finance of King Pharmaceuticals, CFO at Fougera Pharmaceuticals and then onto Lantheus Medical Imaging as interim CFO setting the groundwork to take the company public with a successful IPO. Most recently, John served as the CFO of IlluminOss Medical, an orthopedic company that was acquired last year. Mr. Golubieski earned an MBA from Rider University as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in both Commerce and Accounting from Rider University.
Mr. Lockhart has been Senior Vice President, Operations for BDSI since January 2018. Prior to being elevated to this role, Joseph served as Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain since joining BDSI in November 2015.
Over the course of his 35-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, Joseph has served in key management and leadership roles. He has extensive operational experience at both the technical and strategic levels, with a particular focus on supply-chain management, outsourcing, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), quality, cost efficiencies, and process improvements.
Prior to joining BDSI, Joseph served as Vice President, Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing at Salix Pharmaceuticals, where he provided strategic management of the company’s formulation development, manufacturing, clinical trial material, and technical operations. During his 15-year tenure at Salix, Joseph held positions of increasing responsibility and contributed to multiple successful NDA submissions, as well as product acquisitions and launches. Prior to his tenure at Salix, Joseph held various operational CMC-related positions with leading pharmaceutical organizations, including Merz Pharma and Baxter Healthcare.
Mr. Lockhart received a BA degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his MBA degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Dr. Smith has been Chief Medical Officer since joining BDSI in July 2018.
Prior to joining BDSI, Tom served as Chief Medical Officer for 3 companies, including Charleston Laboratories, Inc., Ameritox, LLC, and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. He provided executive oversight for the scientific, medical, and clinical aspects of each business. During his tenure, Dr. Smith successfully developed medical solutions to benefit patients living with chronic and complex diseases.
Tom has more than 2 decades of experience in the biopharma industry with leading global organizations including Teva Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme, and Abbott Laboratories. While primarily focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders, Dr. Smith has also worked across therapeutic areas such as chronic kidney disease, women’s health, respiratory health, oncology, and endocrinology.
Prior to his career in the pharmaceutical industry, Tom was in private practice for 12 years, serving as a thought leader and clinical investigator for several medications indicated for the treatment of headache and migraine.
Dr. Smith earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine and a BS degree from Purdue University. He is a member of several medical societies and has published extensively throughout his career.
Mr. Vollins has been General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary since joining BDSI in November 2018.
Jim is a seasoned public-company and healthcare attorney, with decades of executive experience and a focus on scaling high-quality pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining BDSI, Jim served as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary for Bio Products Laboratory Limited, a global biologics manufacturer, where he served as member of the executive leadership team responsible for developing and executing corporate strategy.
During his 27-year legal career, Jim has held roles of increasing responsibility for a number of prominent pharmaceutical companies, including Grifols Inc., Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc., and Pfizer Inc. Jim’s career highlights include several successful multibillion-dollar M&A transactions. Jim began his legal career as a commercial litigator. He has tried cases and argued appeals in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Jim has a BA degree from Wesleyan University and a JD degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He is a frequent lecturer on US healthcare law.
Mr. Ostrander has been SVP, Business Development since joining BDSI in January 2020.
Prior to joining BDSI, Kevin was head of North American Business Development for Glenmark Pharmaceuticals USA, where he successfully expanded the company's generic and brand business portfolios through key strategic partnerships. Before joining Glenmark, Kevin held positions of increasing responsibility in business development, licensing, and corporate development with Sandoz (division of Novartis), Eurand, Watson Pharmaceuticals, and Cardinal Health. He has closed more than 75 transactions, with total valuation exceeding $700 million, with domestic and international partners across a diverse range of therapeutic disease states. Kevin started his career as an R&D scientist, spending 10 years developing novel formulations and manufacturing processes for Sterling Drug, Nycomed, NanoSystems (division of Eastman Kodak), and Ѐlan Drug Delivery. He has published numerous scientific articles in peer-review journals, been an invited speaker at scientific conferences and the US Food and Drug Administration, and is an inventor with multiple US/international patents.
Kevin has nearly 30 years of experience in the biopharma industry with leading global organizations including Sandoz, Mylan, Cardinal Health, Ѐlan, and Nycomed. He has been involved in many functional business areas throughout the pharmaceutical industry, including project management, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, formulation design, technology transfer, device development, and strategic planning.
Mr. Ostrander received his BS degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Albany, and an MS degree in Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs from Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned his MBA in International Business at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Board of Directors
Peter S. Greenleaf
Chairman
Peter S. Greenleaf has been our Chairman of the Board and Director since May 2018. He has served as the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since April 2019. Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Cerecor, Inc. since March 2018, and as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from March 2014 to February 2018, when Sucampo was sold to Mallinckrodt PLC. Prior to that, Mr. Greenleaf served as Chief Executive Officer of Histogenics Corporation from June 2013 to March 2014, President of MedImmune, Inc. and MedImmune Ventures from 2010 to June 2013, and Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations of MedImmune from 2006 to 2010. Mr. Greenleaf also held senior commercial positions at Centocor Biotech, Inc. (now Janssen Biotechnology, Johnson & Johnson) from 1998 to 2006, and at Boehringer Mannheim G.m.b.H. (now Roche Holdings) from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Greenleaf has been a member of the Board of Directors of Antares Pharma since December 2018. Mr. Greenleaf chairs the Maryland Venture Fund Authority and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. He previously served on the boards of PhARMA, the Tech Council of Maryland, and the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc. Mr. Greenleaf earned an MBA degree from St. Joseph’s University and a BS degree from Western Connecticut State University.
- Independent Director
- Chairman of the Board
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Compensation Committee
Jeffrey A. Bailey
Chief Executive Officer
Jeffrey Bailey, assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in November 2020, after serving as interim CEO from May 2020 to November 2020. Mr. Bailey joined the Board of Directors in March 2020. Mr. Bailey has an accomplished record in leading both public and private healthcare companies where he has leveraged his diverse leadership experiences in various functional areas including commercial, supply chain and business development, as well as in-licensing and transactions. His experiences include a 20+ year career at Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a tenure as Operating Unit President at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Chief Commercial Officer at King Pharmaceuticals, Chief Operating Officer at Fougera Pharmaceuticals, and Chairman and CEO of Neurovance. Mr. Bailey also served as President and CEO of Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc, taking the company public in 2015. Most recently, he was the CEO of IlluminOss Medical, Inc, which was acquired. Mr. Bailey has served as Chairman of Aileron Therapeutics since March 2018 and also serves as a board member for Tekla Capital Management. Mr. Bailey received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Rutgers University.
Todd C. Davis
Director
Todd C. Davis has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2018. Mr. Davis is the Founder and Managing Partner of RoyaltyRx Capital, a special opportunities investment firm. He is also Chairman and CEO of Benuvia Holdings, a pharmaceutical holding company. From 2006 until 2018, Mr. Davis was a Founder & Managing Partner of Cowen/HealthCare Royalty Partners, a global healthcare investment firm. He has almost 30 years of experience in both operations and investing in the biopharmaceutical and life science industries. Mr. Davis has been involved in over $3 billion in healthcare financings, including growth equity, public equity turnarounds, structured debt, and royalty acquisitions. He has also led, structured, and closed more than 40 additional intellectual property licenses, as well as hybrid royalty-debt deals. Previously, Mr. Davis was a partner at Paul Capital Partners, where he co-managed that firm's royalty investments as a member of the Royalty Management Committee. He also served as a partner responsible for biopharmaceutical growth equity investments at Apax Partners. Mr. Davis began his business career in sales at Abbott Laboratories, where he held several commercial positions of increasing responsibility. He subsequently held general management, business development, and licensing positions at Elan Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Davis is a Navy veteran who holds a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from Harvard University. He currently serves on the boards of Palvella Therapeutics Inc., Vaxart, Inc., and Ligand Pharmaceuticals.
- Independent Director
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Chair of the Compensation Committee
Kevin Kotler
Director
Kevin Kotler, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2018. Mr. Kotler has over 27 years of experience as an investor and analyst following the healthcare industry. He is the Founder and Portfolio Manager of Broadfin Capital, LLC, a healthcare focused investment fund which launched in 2005. Broadfin utilized passive and activist investment strategies in public and private medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. He formerly served on the boards of Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, Novelion Therapeutics, Inc. and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Technology Development Fund. He is cofounder of Hamptons United, a charity started as a result of the coronavirus pandemic to help support local charities. Kevin graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.
- Independent Director
- Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
- Member of the Compensation Committee
Vanila M. Singh, MD, MAMC
Director
Vanila M. Singh, MD, joined our Board of Directors as an independent director in November 2019. Dr. Singh is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and a teaching mentor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She is the immediate past Chief Medical Officer of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and served as Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Pain Management Best Practices Task Force, chartered by Congress and involving multiple federal health agencies, professional medical organizations, and patient advocacy groups to guide the medical community and key stakeholders in optimal patient care in a growing and complex national health matter. Dr. Singh, who is board-certified in both anesthesiology and pain medicine, specializes in treating patients with complex chronic pain issues. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a BS degree in both molecular and cell biology and economics. She received her MD degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dr. Singh completed her internal medicine internship at Yale University School of Medicine and her anesthesiology residency and pain medicine fellowship at Weill-Cornell New York Presbyterian Hospital, which included training at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Hospital for Special Surgery.
- Independent Director
- Member of the Compensation Committee
- Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Mark A. Sirgo, PharmD
Director
Mark A. Sirgo, Pharm.D., has been a member of our Board of Directors since August 2005. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of ArunA Bio since January 2019. Formerly, he served as BDSI’s President from January 2005 to 2018 and Chief Executive Officer from August 2005 to 2018. Dr. Sirgo joined BDSI in August 2004 as Senior Vice President of Commercialization and Corporate Development upon the acquisition of Arius Pharmaceuticals, of which he was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. He has also served as BDSI’s Executive Vice President, Corporate and Commercial Development and Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Sirgo has over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including clinical drug development, marketing, sales, business development, and executive management positions. Prior to Arius Pharmaceuticals, he spent 16 years in a variety of positions in both clinical development and marketing at Glaxo, Glaxo Wellcome, and GlaxoSmithKline, including Vice President of International OTC Development and Vice President of New Product Marketing. From 1996 to 1999, Dr. Sirgo was Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. (PPD). Dr. Sirgo served on the Board of Directors of Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., from 2008 until its sale in 2015. Dr. Sirgo has been a Director at Biomerica, Inc. since July 2016, and Chairman of the Board of 9 Meters Pharma since April 2020. Dr. Sirgo received his BS in Pharmacy from The Ohio State University and his Doctorate from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.
- Independent Director
William Mark Watson
Director
William Mark Watson, CPA, joined our Board of Directors as an independent member in December 2017 and is Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Watson is a Certified Public Accountant with over 40 years of experience in public accounting and auditing, having spent his entire career, from January 1973 to June 2013, at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, the multinational professional services network, and its predecessor, most recently as Central Florida Marketplace Leader. He has a particular expertise in the health and life sciences sector, having played a significant role in the development of Deloitte’s audit approach for health and life sciences companies, as well as leading its national healthcare regulatory and compliance practice. He has served as lead audit partner and advisory partner on the accounts of many public companies, ranging from middle-market firms to Fortune 500 enterprises. Mr. Watson is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Watson is a member of the Board of Directors of Sykes Enterprises, Inc. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Hedgepath Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He received his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Marquette University.
- Independent Director
- Chair of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee