Blueprint Medicines announces CEO and leadership transition plan

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Blueprint Medicines announces CEO and leadership transition plan

Kate Haviland will succeed Jeff Albers as CEO of Blueprint Medicines Corp., effective April 4, 2022. At that time, Albers will transition from his current role as chairman, president, and CEO to executive chairman of the board of directors. Haviland will transition from her current role as chief operating officer to president and CEO. In addition, Haviland will be appointed to serve on the company’s board of directors.

Christina Rossi also has been promoted from chief commercial officer to chief operating officer. In her new role, Rossi will retain leadership of global commercial strategy and operations, and expand her oversight to include portfolio strategy and program management, corporate development, and corporate affairs. Rossi’s promotion is also effective April 4, 2022.

“Serving as CEO of Blueprint Medicines for the last eight years has been the highlight of my career, and I’m immensely proud of all that we’ve accomplished in our efforts to improve and extend the lives of patients,” Albers stated. “Today, Blueprint Medicines is a fully integrated, global company delivering approved medicines to patients around the world. With a foundation of R&D and commercial success and an exciting pipeline of therapeutic candidates positioned to drive the company’s next phase of transformational growth, it is the right time for me to transition leadership to Kate and our outstanding executive team.”

As part of the succession plan, Albers has agreed to serve as executive chairman through the end of 2022, with continued service as chairman thereafter, with the goal of enabling a seamless leadership transition as the company continues to execute on its growth strategy.

Jeff Albers and Kate Haviland (Brad Bahner Photography)

“I have known Kate for nearly two decades and have valued her expertise and leadership throughout our time working together at Blueprint Medicines,” Albers said. “Since joining the company six years ago, Kate has touched all aspects of our business and has been a steadfast partner in charting the company’s course through both successes and setbacks. She is adept at identifying and pursuing opportunities for growth and managing resource allocations across our broad portfolio, while also driving a high-performance culture anchored in transparency and a commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce.”

According to Alexis Borisy, co-founder and member of the board of directors, the board’s selection of Haviland as the next CEO is the culmination of a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process that was purposefully designed to drive the company’s continued success, ensure continuity, and empower its strong executive team. “Kate is an exceptional leader with a clear and inspiring vision, demonstrated ability to lead and execute an integrated business strategy, and deep commitment to our patient-centric mission and culture of innovation,” Borisy says. “The board is confident in her ability to lead the company to reach its full potential through our next phase of growth and beyond.”

Haviland joined Blueprint Medicines in January 2016 as chief business officer and has served as chief operating officer since January 2019. Over this time, she served as the founding chair of the portfolio management team, formed and executed business development strategy, drove global capital investment plans, and played a key role in capital market financings.

In addition, she directly supported the company’s evolution into a fully integrated business by developing and providing ongoing management of critical functions, including portfolio strategy and program management, corporate development, commercial strategy, international, technical operations, corporate affairs, and information systems.

“I am excited to become CEO of Blueprint Medicines as we build on our success by advancing the ongoing commercial launch of Aykavit (avapritinib) in advanced systemic mastocytosis, achieving a constellation of near-term clinical data milestones for multiple therapeutic candidates, and expanding our portfolio with promising new research programs that we believe will drive substantial growth over the long term,” Haviland says. “Blueprint Medicines was founded with a vision to change the lives of patients who have received a devastating diagnosis of cancer or hematologic disease. I have been honored to be a part of the team that has made this vision a reality. Over the years, I have met many patients and families whose lives have been impacted and extended by our efforts. I am driven by these experiences to expand the impact Blueprint Medicines can have on more people and families across the globe who are looking to us with hope for a better future. I look forward to continuing to work with Jeff, as he steps into the executive chairman role, the board, and our executive team. Most importantly, I’m thrilled to lead and work side-by-side with our employees at Blueprint Medicines, a team that is passionate and deeply committed to continuously driving and delivering medical innovation.”

Prior to joining Blueprint Medicines, Haviland held leadership roles focused on building emerging, high-growth companies and advancing the development of innovative therapies in oncology and rare diseases as VP, Rare Diseases and Oncology Program Leadership at Idera Pharmaceuticals, head of commercial development at Sarepta Therapeutics, executive director of commercial development at PTC Therapeutics, and roles in both corporate development and project management at Genzyme.

She holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University with a double major in biochemistry/molecular biology and economics and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Haviland has served as an independent director on the board of Fulcrum Therapeutics since June 2018 and is a member of the audit and compensation committees.