Our Team,Committed to Excellence
Management Team
Jeff Hackman | Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. Hackman has served as director of Fennec Pharmaceuticals and Chief Executive Officer since August 2024. Mr. Hackman, age 62, brings more than 30 years of commercial leadership experience to the Company, including oversight of more than 10 product launches across a wide range of therapeutic areas and markets. His tenure in oncology spans the last 12 years across Sigma Tau, Baxalta, Shire, and EUSA Pharma, where he was responsible for the U.S. commercial organizations and managing respective product portfolios in multiple franchises, which generated billions in revenue over the years. More specifically, Mr. Hackman has successfully commercialized products that are specifically relevant to the PEDMARK® markets, including the outpatient oncology community and the AYA population.
Robert Andrade | Chief Financial Officer
Mr Andrade joined Fennec Pharmaceuticals in November 2015 as Chief Financial Officer. In addition, he was previously Chief Financial Officer of Fennec from 2009 to 2013. His career spans 20 years of financial and capital markets experience, including numerous financings as well as merger and acquisition transactions. Mr Andrade previously served in senior investment positions at Magnetar Capital, Millennium Partners, and Caxton Associates. He earned a master of arts degree in economics from the University of Southern California.
Pierre S. Sayad, PhD, M.S. | Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Pierre Sayad is an accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with more than 22 years of proven success building and leading world-class organizations. During his tenure in the industry, Dr. Sayad has launched nine novel drugs across 14 therapeutic areas, including oncology (both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies) and neuroscience (depression, schizophrenia, bipolar and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Trained as a molecular physiologist, Pierre has been heavily involved in the successful commercial launches of several drugs, including oncology drugs at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Oncopeptides, and CTI BioPharma, and Eli Lilly and Company’s blockbuster neuroscience drugs. Pierre most recently served as chief operating officer and interim chief medical officer at Zephyr Labz. He also held senior leadership positions at the International Myeloma Foundation and Campbell Alliance. Dr. Sayad is a graduate of the School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, as well as Harvard Business School.
Terry Evans | Chief Commercial Officer
As a seasoned commercial and operations leader in the pharmaceutical industry, Terry Evans is an adept executive known for delivering significant revenue growth and leading high-performing teams. Terry’s industry experience spans all facets of commercial operations, including sales, sales management, operations, market access, trade, specialty pharmacy, and data analytics. In his more than 25 years of experience with companies, including Currax Pharmaceuticals, Horizon Therapeutics, Graceway Pharmaceuticals, and Medicis, he has driven substantial results by executing strategic initiatives for revenue generation, and improved patient access to innovative therapies. Terry most recently served as chief executive officer of UNITE Pharma Trade Advisors.
Christiana Cioffi | Chief Strategy Officer
Christiana Cioffi, MBA, brings more than 20 years of collective and demonstrated excellence in strategy, leadership and culture building, inclusive of a 13-year proven track record of developing award-winning, disruptive strategies and launch excellence from early stage through life cycle management phases with leading biopharmaceutical companies. As a recipient of multiple industry marketing awards, Christiana has focused primarily in oncology, rare disease, and hematology therapeutic areas with companies, including Shield Therapeutics, Stemline Therapeutics, EUSA Pharma, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Servier (previously Shire/Baxalta/Baxter), and Abbott Laboratories. Christiana most recently served as a strategic advisor and leadership coach at Disruptify Consulting. Christiana is a decorated army veteran and Bronze Star recipient, with proven and outstanding leadership skills while leading soldiers in combat and two deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Mark Gowland | Controller
Mr. Gowland joined Fennec Pharmaceuticals in November 2015 as Controller. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Global Management Accountant with 22 years of accounting experience. Prior to Fennec, Mr. Gowland worked at Cisco in project management and served as Controller for DNA Group and Gorbec Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to that, Mr Gowland worked as an auditor with Southeastern regional public accounting firm, Cherry Bekaert LLP. Mr Gowland earned a masters of business administration in accounting and finance from Regis University.
Board of Directors
Dr Khalid Islam | Chairman
Dr. Islam has been a director of Fennec since April 2014 and is our current Chairman of the Board. Dr. Islam was the Chairman and CEO of Gentium S.p.A. (a Nasdaq-listed company; 2009-2014) where he led the transition from a loss-making to a cash-flow positive and profitable company. Under his leadership, the company value increased from US$25 million leading to a successful all cash US$1 billion merger with Jazz Pharmaceuticals, plc. Subsequent to the sale of Gentium, Dr. Islam has been involved from both an advisory and board level in several public and private healthcare related companies. From 1999-2008, Dr. Islam was President and CEO of Arpida AG where he transitioned the early-stage start-up to a SWX-listed company and raised US$300 million in the IPO and follow-ons. From 1987-1999, he held various positions in HMR & MMD (now Sanofi-Aventis). From 1977-1987, Dr. Islam worked in academia at Imperial College (Univ. of London) and in Milan University, where he was a contract professor. Dr. Islam is a graduate of Chelsea College and received his Ph.D. from Imperial College, University of London. He holds several patents and has published over 80 articles in leading journals. He is an advisor to the venture group Kurma Biofund (Paris). He is a founder/co-founder of Gain Therapeutics Inc. (GANX), Sirius Healthcare Partners GmbH (Zurich), PrevAbr LLC (D.C.), BioAim LLC (L.A.) & Life Sciences Management GmbH (Zug). Dr. Islam is Board Chair at Minoryx Therapeutics (Spain) and Gain Therapeutics Inc. (GANX), a public company. . In the past, he has served on the Board of Directors of Immunomedics (USA), Processa Pahramacueticals (PCSA), Pcovery Aps (Denmark), Adenium Aps (Denmark), C10 Pharma AS (Norway), Karolinska Development (KDEV, Sweden) and MolMed S.p.A. (MLMI, Italy). Dr. Islam’s extensive international pharmaceutical expertise in transitioning companies from development to production strengthens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and experience.
Dr Marco Brughera | Director
Dr. Brughera has been a director of Fennec since August 2016. Currently, he is the founder at Brucon srls and Strategic Advisor at Essetifin. From 2011 until 2021, Dr. Brughera had been CEO of Lediant Biosciences and has held several positions for the Sigma-Tau Group, including CEO and Global Head of Sigma Tau Rare Disease, President of Sigma-Tau Research and President of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals. He drove the commercial revival of a lead oncology product line resulting in its successful sale for a total of around $900M. He also successfully out-licensed the Defibrotide US rights to Jazz Pharmaceuticals. From 2004 to 2010, Dr. Brughera served as the Vice President of Preclinical Development at Nerviano Medical Sciences (NMS), a pharmaceutical oncology-focused integrated discovery and development company. He also served as the Managing Director at Accelera, an independent contract research organization with the NMS Group. From 1999 to 2004, Dr. Brughera held several senior level positions in the areas of research and development with Pharmacia and Pfizer. Prior to 1999, he held various positions at Pharmacia & Upjohn and Farmitalia Carlo Erba SpA, an Italian pharmaceutical company. He currently serves on the Board of Leadiant Biosciences Inc and Limited; advisor and biotech champion at Indaco Ventures Partners SGR. Previously was a Board member of Gentium, Exelead, Soligenix, Lee’s Pharmaceuticals and Naicons. Dr. Brughera earned his degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Milan and is a European Registered Toxicologist. Dr. Brughera has wide-spread experience and knowledge of pharmaceutical drug development in international companies. His knowledge in particular, of clinical drug development in Europe, deepens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and experience.
Jodi A. Cook, PhD | Director
Dr. Cook has been a director of Fennec since September 2019. Dr. Cook is currently CEO of Skylark Bio Inc, an early-stage Company working on gene therapy for genetic disorders. Dr. Cook previously served as SVP and Head of Gene Therapy Strategy at PTC Therapeutics from August 2018 until February 2020. Previously she was one of the founding members and Chief Operating Officer of Agilis Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage company focused on gene therapies for rare diseases of the central nervous system, from December 2013 until its acquisition by PTC Therapeutics in August 2018. While at Agilis she led the sale of the company to PTC in a deal that represented significant value to all parties. Dr. Cook’s career spans a wide range of experiences including VP of Clinical Research at InSound Medical and Director of Audiology at Songbird Hearing, both successful biotech start-up companies within the hearing industry. She has been Assistant Professor of Audiology and Director of the Hearing Aid Program at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Cook earned a BA from Loyola University in Maryland, M.Aud. from University of South Carolina, and PhD from Arizona State University in Hearing Science. She completed a clinical fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. Her extensive scientific, clinical and executive business experience strengthens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills and expertise.
Chris Rallis | Director
Mr. Rallis, age 69, has served as a director of Fennec since August 2011. Mr. Rallis has been an executive-in-residence at Pappas Capital, a life science venture capital firm since January 2008. Previously, Mr. Rallis was the President and Chief Executive Officer of ImmunoBiosciences, Inc. (“IBI”), a vaccine technology company formerly located in Raleigh, North Carolina from April 2006 through June 2007. Prior to joining IBI, Mr. Rallis served as an executive in residence (part-time) for Pappas Capital, and as a consultant for Duke University and Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Rallis is the former President and Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) and director of Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired by Gilead Sciences in January 2003 for approximately $465 million. Prior to assuming the role of President and COO in March 2000, he was Executive Vice President, Business Development and General Counsel. While at Triangle, Mr. Rallis participated in 11 equity financings generating gross proceeds of approximately $500 million. He was also primarily responsible for all business development activities which included a worldwide alliance with Abbott Laboratories and the in-licensing of ten compounds. Before joining Triangle in 1995, Mr. Rallis served in various business development and legal management roles with Burroughs Wellcome Co. over a 13 year period, including Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Development. Mr. Rallis also serves on the board of Lung Cancer Initiative of NC, located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Rallis received his A.B. degree in economics from Harvard College and a J.D. from Duke University. As a result of these and other professional experiences, Mr. Rallis possesses particular healthcare industry knowledge and experience which strengthens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills, and experience.
Rostislav Raykov | Director
Mr Raykov has served as director of Fennec Pharmaceuticals since July 2009. Mr. Raykov also served as Fennec’s Chief Executive Officer from July 2009 through August 2024. Prior to Fennec, he was a co-founder and portfolio manager for Alchem Investment Partners, an event-driven hedge fund. He also served as a portfolio manager for Purchase Associates, an event-driven hedge fund owned by John Levin & Co., and worked as an analyst at Arbitrage Associates, a Merger Arbitrage hedge fund owned by Tiedeman Investment Group. He began his career as a financial analyst in the natural resources group at Bear Stearns. Mr Raykov graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration.
Jeff Hackman | Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. Hackman has served as director of Fennec Pharmaceuticals and Chief Executive Officer since August 2024. Mr. Hackman, age 62, brings more than 30 years of commercial leadership experience to the Company, including oversight of more than 10 product launches across a wide range of therapeutic areas and markets. His tenure in oncology spans the last 12 years across Sigma Tau, Baxalta, Shire, and EUSA Pharma, where he was responsible for the U.S. commercial organizations and managing respective product portfolios in multiple franchises, which generated billions in revenue over the years. More specifically, Mr. Hackman has successfully commercialized products that are specifically relevant to the PEDMARK® markets, including the outpatient oncology community and the AYA population.