Elise Brownell, Ph.D.
Founding Partner
Dr Brownell has extensive experience in senior project management and
leadership positions in the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Most recently she was a founding member, head of project management and senior director of Aerovance, Inc, a venture-backed biotechnology company spun out from Bayer Healthcare. At Aerovance she created and managed effective team processes to bring four product candidates into full scale clinical Phase 1 and 2 development. Prior to Aerovance, Dr Brownell acted as head of project management for Bayer's Biotechnology Unit, where she integrated project strategies to meet therapeutic and market needs. Other roles were directed toward building and negotiating partnerships with third parties to support the development programs, and leading research teams through early bench-to-clinic development phases. Dr Brownell received her MS, MPhil and
PhD (Biology) from Yale University, and her BS (Biology) from Allegheny College.
Dr. Brownell has been named as a member of the Life Science Committee for ASTIA (www.astia.org) the nation's premier entrepreneurial organization focused on women-led businesses. She is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Contract Pharma Magazine, and Chair for the Leaders Network program of Women in Consulting.
Victoria Sergeant
Consulting Partner,
Advisory Circle
Victoria has an extensive and successful international track record of executive recruitment in the life science sector for more than 20 years. Victoria's expertise provides depth to the company and allows ZephyrBiotech to expand its programs providing interim management to life science companies. Victoria began her career in the San Francisco Bay Area as an executive search consultant providing a service for pharmaceutical, life science and technology companies such as Chiron, Amgen, Genentech and Hewlett Packard. In 1986 she founded an executive search consultancy recruiting for leading pharmaceutical companies around the world. Victoria worked with companies such as Eli Lilly, Schering Plough and Ciba Geigy to build world class teams. Moving to Europe in 1991 and based in London, she expanded the company's international offering. Now back in the Bay Area and as Partner of ZephyrBiotech Victoria brings focus, experience, as well as further contacts to realize the ambitious goals of the company.