Leadership

Meet the executive leadership team and decision-making personnel who are responsible for fostering and embracing our purpose of better lives and a healthier tomorrow. 

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Business Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Senior Vice President, Quality and Regulatory

Senior Vice President, Operations and Alliance Management

Director, Human Resources

Richard W. Pascoe

Chief Executive Officer

 Richard W. Pascoe joined the company in August 2024 as the Chief Executive Officer. Previously he was named as a strategic advisor and to the board of directors of Prizm Therapeutics, an ultra-rare disease company, in June of 2023. He was previously the Executive Chairman of Zevra Therapeutics, a rare disease company, from November of 2021to December of 2022 and Chief Executive Officer from January of 2023 to June of 2023. He was Chief Executive Officer of Histogen Inc. from January of 2019 to November of 2021. Mr. Pascoe was the Chief Executive Officer of Apricus Biosciences, Inc. from March 2013 until January 2019. Prior to Apricus, Mr. Pascoe was with Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Pernix Therapeutics, Inc.) where he served as the Chief Executive Officer.

Prior to joining Somaxon in 2008, Mr. Pascoe held a series of senior management roles to include Chief Operating Officer at ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Takeda Inc.) and Senior Vice President of Neuroscience Division at King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Pfizer Inc.). Prior to King, Mr. Pascoe held commercial roles in the hospital pharmaceutical and medical device groups at Medco Research, Inc. (acquired by King), COR Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc.), and B. Braun Interventional.

Mr. Pascoe is currently a member of the board of directors of Seelos Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company. He is the past Chairman of the board of directors of Biocom, California’s leading advocate for the life sciences industry, and a member of the board of directors of the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund which serves the families of our nation’s fallen servicemembers. Mr. Pascoe formally served on the Florida Board of Directors of the Gary Sinise Foundation which serves disabled servicemembers and first responders.

Mr. Pascoe served on active duty as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Army’s 24th Infantry Division with one combat tour in Iraq where he earned several awards and decorations including the Bronze Star Medal. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he received a B.S. degree in Leadership. Mr. Pascoe was appointed as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Southern California in 2017, where he served as a liaison between the Secretary of the Army and the local community until November 2021.

David Friedman

Chief Business Officer

David brings more than 30 years’ experience advising life science and healthcare clients like Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Endo, Par Pharmaceutical, Lannett, Lupin, JHP Pharmaceuticals, G&W Laboratories and Ranbaxy.

David joined the company in June 2022 as Head of Strategy and Business Development. David earned a BA in History (Honors) from Haverford College and an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has also studied at the London School of Economics. 

John Riso

Chief Financial Officer

John joined the company in November 2022, bringing 14 years’ experience as Vice President of Finance at G&W Laboratories and as a Certified Public Accountant with WithumSmith+Brown. Throughout his career, John has proven extremely effective at growing startups—by transitioning accounting processes, improving controls and creating efficiencies. Today, John leads our financial planning process, tracking key performance indicators across multiple business units. 

Among his core competencies: financial modeling, corporate strategy, cash flow forecasting, financial reporting, audit management, variance analysis, FP&A support, staff management and development, due diligence support and technical expertise.

John is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from The College of New Jersey.

Matthew Prokopczyk

Senior Vice President, Quality and Regulatory

Matthew serves as Senior Vice President, Quality and Regulatory, and brings more than 25 years’ experience with brand and generic pharmaceutical companies. Before joining the company in February 2022, Matthew held Quality and Regulatory leadership positions at Aphena, Amerigen, Alvogen, Dr. Reddy’s and Wyeth. He is an accomplished veteran of the industry with a proven track record of building compliant, efficient, high-performing organizations.

Matthew holds an MBA in Finance and Business Economics from Fordham University, NY, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, NY.

Ashleigh Preiss

Senior Vice President, Operations and Alliance Management

Ashleigh joined the company in August 2013 and serves as the Senior Vice President, Operations and Alliance Management. Her long experience with supply chain and logistics processes makes her an invaluable partner in the maintenance of inventory and best-in-class customer service. Previously Ashleigh served as , Ashleigh served as Customer Service Analyst, Associate Director of Procurement and Logistics, and Supply Chain Director.


Ashleigh holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communications, Sciences, and Disorders, University of South Florida and a Bachelors of Science, Sports Management, California University, PA. She is currently studying for a Master of Science in Public Health, Applied Studies, University of Florida Graduate School of Public Health and Certification in Production and Inventory Management (APICS).

Sandra Shook

Director, Human Resources

Sandra joined the company in April 2017 and serves as the Director, Human Resources. She brings more than 25 years’ experience in human resource practices, employment law, and organizational development. Sandra is the driving force behind our workforce recruitment and development, and has helped build  a high performance culture marked by empowerment, productivity and high standards for quality and human decency.

 

Sandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Albright College, PA