Chair-Elect
Kenneth M. Cohen is an independent adviser to entrepreneurs, companies, and investors, primarily in the life sciences, and an experienced corporate director and board chairman. Ken was previously Co-founder, President and CEO of Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company. He was President and CEO of Synbiotics Corporation, a veterinary diagnostics company, and was Executive Vice President and COO for Canji, a gene-therapy company, until its acquisition by Schering-Plough Corp. He served as Vice President of Business Affairs at Argus Pharmaceuticals and VP of Marketing & Business Development for LifeCell Corporation. Ken held numerous positions during 10 years at Eli Lilly and Company, including Director of Business Planning for Medical Instrument Systems, which became Guidant Corp., and managed the launch of Prozac®, one of the most successful pharmaceutical products in history.
Ken received his A.B. degree from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School. In 1999, in recognition of his contributions to French-American business cooperation, the President of France named Ken a Chevalier of the National Order of Merit.
Mr. Cohen has consulted to and been a director of multiple pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology companies. Ken is presently Trustee and Chairman Emeritus of the San Diego Humane Society. Ken is also a lecturer at the Fowler School of Business at San Diego State University, where he teaches multinational business management. Mr. Cohen joined the board in 2022.