Business Development Team
Executive Director & Head of Global Business Development
Livia Legg joined QPS in 2002 as Director of Business Development. She was promoted to Executive Director & Head of Global Business Development and as such, is presently responsible for all global business development activities. Livia began her career in sales in 1996 at Merck Pharmaceutical Co. and subsequently worked as a Business Development Director for MDS Pharma Services in the areas of drug discovery and preclinical development. She earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of New Hampshire in animal and nutritional sciences (molecular, cellular and biomedical sciences).
Senior Director of Business Development – Mid-Atlantic Region
Jerry Gromelski joined QPS in 2002 as Director of Business Development and was promoted to Senior Director of Business Development in 2007. He is presently responsible for client services in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. A classically trained pharmacologist, he entered the CRO industry in 1974 and has held increasingly responsible technical, operational and business development positions with Pharmakon Laboratories (now Calvert Laboratories) and MDS Pharma Services. Jerry earned a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Scranton.
Internal BD
Lily Rosa joined QPS in 2006 as Director of Business Development. She is presently responsible for internal client services. Prior to joining QPS, Lily held business development and technical roles at various pharmaceutical/pharmaceutical-related industries including Ambion, Affymetrix, Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals and Cincinnati Children's Hospital. She began her career in the industry in 1991 after earning her B.S. degree in biology and her M.S. degree in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, both from Iowa State University.
Director of Business Development – Northeast Region
Wendy Nelson joined QPS in 2008 as Director of Business Development. She is presently responsible for client services in the Northeast region of the United States. Prior to joining QPS, Wendy was a Senior Project Manager for Alantos Pharmaceuticals (now Amgen) where she was responsible for all outsourcing, built and managed an electronic data management system, assisted in the preparation of two INDs, and managed the post acquisition transition of clinical and nonclinical projects. Wendy began her work in the industry at Alkermes in 1997, where she was responsible for directing formulation improvements as part of ongoing collaborations with big pharma partners. She earned her B.S. degree in biomedical engineering, her M.S. degree in engineering, and her Ph.D. in medical science, all from Brown University.
Associate Director of Business Development – Southeastern US and OH, IN, KY Region
Marina Abanto joined QPS in September 2008 as Associate Director of Business Development. She is presently responsible for client services in the Southeast and tri-state (OH, IN and KY) region of the United States. Since 1985, Marina has held business development and technical roles with Bayer Corporation, Milacron Inc., PMC Specialties Group Inc., and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. She earned her B.S. degree in natural science from Xavier University, and her M.S. degree in microbiology (microbial physiology and metabolism) from the University of Cincinnati.
Associate Director of Business Development – Early Phase Clinical Services - Eastern Region
Mr. Andrew Nehls joined QPS in February 2009 as Associate Director of Business Development. He is presently responsible for client services in the early phase clinical services area on the east coast. Andrew entered the industry in 1999 and held sales and project management positions with Forest Pharmaceuticals and Streck Laboratories. Prior to joining QPS, he held associate director roles in clinical operations and business development at a 160-bed Phase I CRO. Andrew earned his B.S. degree in chemistry from Nebraska Wesleyan University and his M.S. degree in pharmaceutical sciences, drug delivery from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the globally recognized Project Management Institute.
Director of Business Development – Early Phase Clinical Services - Central Region
Jim Cunningham joined QPS in October 2009 as Director of Business Development. He is presently responsible for client services in the early phase clinical services area, primarily in the central region. Jim entered the industry in 2001 and held operations/recruiting management positions with MDS Pharma Services. He then joined Qualia Clinical Services in a lead management role, then moving to head up their business development efforts. The year prior to joining QPS, Mr. Cunningham held a business development management role at Frontage Labs. He has been involved in well over 500 clinical studies and uses this knowledge and experience to provide a high level of service to his clients.
Director of Business Development – Early Phase Clinical Services - West Coast
Jeff Moran joined QPS in November 2009 as Director of Business Development. He is presently responsible for client services on the west coast. Jeff has 15 years of experience in the industry, working as a Principal Investigator in bioanalysis and also holding business development positions with MDS Pharma Services and Eurofins AvTech. He earned his B.S. degree in biological sciences and minor in mathematics from the University of Nebraska.
Executive Director of Business Development - Bioanalysis and Early Phase Clinical Services - Europe
Jelle Hempenius joined QPS (formerly Xendo Drug Development) in January 2006 as Senior Director of Business Development and was promoted to Executive Director of Business Development in April 2010. He is presently responsible for client services in the Bioanalytical services area in Europe and is key account manager for a number of key accounts in Early Phase Clinical Services and carries responsibility for the Japanese market. Jelle has been trained in Analytical Chemistry and Business Administration and started his career in the CRO industry in 1983. He had several (management) positions in the Bioanalytical Laboratories of Pharma Bio-Research (currently PRA). In 1998 Jelle made a career switch to Business Development and held several Business Development positions at Pharma Bio-Research and ICON Development Solutions.
Senior Director of Business Development – Early Phase Clinical Services – Europe
Edwin van Vulpen joined QPS in August 2010 as Senior Director of Business Development. He is presently responsible for client services in the early phase clinical services area. Edwin joined the CRO business in 1998 when he started working for Harlan Sprague Dawley followed by Citeq Biologics and Xendo Drug Development where he worked for three years. He has excellent capabilities in leading complex business development opportunities through the closing phase together with his client. He also headed some influential marketing campaigns to increase awareness of range of services in several companies. Edwin has a BA background from the Nyenrode Business University.
Director of Business Development – Clinical Research Services – Europe
Irma Scheepstra-Beukers joined QPS in August
2010 as Director of Business Development. She is responsible for late phase
Clinical Research (Phase II to IV). Irma started her sales
career in 1991 at GSK, and worked for fifteen years in different sales and
medical positions at GSK and BiogenIdec. During this period she learned to
do observational
studies and her interest in Clinical Research grew. In January 2010 she entered
the CRO industry. Irma earned her M.S. at the University
of Groningen (The Netherlands) in medical biology.
Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Asia
Alex Chang joined QPS Taiwan in 2003, and as Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Asia is responsible for business development in Asia. Alex has more than twenty-five years of experience in sales and marketing, and served as a Director at Howin Technologies Cooperation prior to joining QPS Taiwan. He received his B.S. degree in chemistry from the National Cheng-Kung University in Taiwan.
Sr. Director of Business Development, Toxicology Services
Dave Dehler joined QPS in May 2011 as Sr. Director
of Business Development, Toxicology Services. He is primarily responsible for
building market share within the preclinical toxicology arena, attracting and
serving a base of U.S. clients working at the QPS Center for Toxicology and
Preclinical Services in Taipei, Taiwan. Mr. Dehler has been working within the
toxicology CRO industry for over 25 years in varying capacities including technical,
operational management, resource management, client services, study direction,
and business development. He has a B.A.in Biology from the State University
of New York and has studied Toxicology at The American University in Washington,
D.C.
Sr. Director of Business Development
Fabien Du Fraisse joined QPS in September 2011
as Senior Director of Business Development. He is presently responsible for
client services in the Bioanalytical and Early Phase clinical services areas,
primarily in the UK. Fabien lives in Bedford, UK and has extensive knowledge
and experience working in the biotechnology industry in the UK. In addition
to his history of working with the Bioindustry Association (representative
trade body for the UK Biotechnology Industry sector) and the Bioscience Unit
of the UK Governments’ Department of Trade and Industry, Fabien gained
valuable and relevant industry experience across Europe and the Middle East
through his roles in Sales and Marketing at SmithKline Beecham, Unilever and,
most recently in Business Development at Quintiles. Fabien has a BSc in Biochemistry
from London UK.
Sr. Director of Business Development
Sylvia Demandewicz has joined QPS in September
2011 as Senior Director Business Development. Her responsibilities include
client relationship management and development throughout Europe for early
phase clinical services. Sylvia has worked over the last fifteen years in different
senior sales and management positions in global Clinical Research Organisations,
such as Quintiles, Omnicare and i3 Research and has established contact network
across Europe, Asia and Israel. Sylvia holds an MBA in International Management
from United Business Institute Brussels and speaks six languages, including
Mandarin Chinese.