Executive Chairman
President
VP of Strategy
VP of Finance
VP of Human Resources and Environmental Health & Safety
VP of Business Development & Project Management
VP of Research & Development
VP of Quality & Regulatory Affairs
VP of Operations
General Manager
The diverse background of our analytical team gives Nitto Avecia Pharma Services an in-depth understanding of all facets of the drug development process. Their expertise translates into accurate chemical and microbiological results you can rely to ensure the successful manufacturing of your product.
Quality Control/Stability >
Protecting product quality, integrity, and security with cGMP-validated photostability equipment.
President
Seiji Fujioka, President of Nitto Avecia, Inc.’s Human Life Science division since 2018, has steered the organization through a period of remarkable growth. He concurrently serves as the Corporate Senior Vice President of Nitto’s Medical Division, overseeing numerous projects in the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors. Seiji has been an integral part of Nitto since 1985, embodying the company’s core value, “Innovation for Customers.” He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Doshisha University.
VP of Finance
Gordon Russell, Nitto Avecia’s VP of Finance, has overseen the organization’s finances since 2000 when Avecia acquired the Hybridon DNA manufacturing facility in Milford, MA. Over two decades, Gordon’s diligence and integrity have propelled the organization into the leading contract manufacturer of oligonucleotides. He played a key role in the leadership teams overseeing the acquisitions of Girindus America and Irvine Analytical.
President
Tammy Cooper, President, has been with Nitto Avecia since 2005 and has played a vital role in increasing the business growth throughout her tenure. Prior to taking on the role of President in 2024, Tammy was the Vice President of Business Development since 2017. Tammy is unwavering in her commitment to build a strong foundation based on innovation, sustainability, and customer centricity to maintain our success as one of the top CDMOs in the oligo market. With over two decades in the pharmaceutical industry, Tammy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Prince Edward Island.
General Manager, California
Atef Khezri, General Manager, brings with him more than 18 years of Operations leadership experience within the global life sciences companies. His expertise encompasses various fields including vaccine manufacturing, cell and gene therapy, biologics CDMOs, and medical devices. He has manufacturing experience in both clinical and commercial scale. Atef is driven by his passion for continuous improvement, adept problem-solving skills, unwavering commitment to quality and compliance, and dedication to operational excellence. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy.
VP of Human Resource
Emily Pullen, Vice President of Nitto Avecia and Nitto Avecia Pharma Services. Emily is a seasoned professional in the field of Human Resources, boasting a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She has honed her skills as an HR attorney and culture and compliance consultant with extensive HR executive leadership experience. Prior to accepting this role, Emily was Vice President, Head of People at Allurion Technologies. With over 20 years of international and US-based HR experience, Emily brings a wealth of strategic HR knowledge and a strong commitment to fostering an engaged and diverse workforce.
VP of Research and Development
Prasad Panzade, Ph.D. brings over 25 years of experience in the multidimensional chemical industries, encompassing both pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors. Dr. Panzade holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, specializing in pharmaceutical product development, as well as analytical sciences and technology.
Throughout his career, Dr. Panzade has been an active member of several professional organizations, including AAPS, IPA, and SPDS. He is also a dedicated mentor, committed to cultivating the next generation of leaders in the industry. Before joining us, Prasad served as the Head of Analytical Sciences and Laboratory Operations at Catalent, Inc.
Prasad’s extensive expertise and leadership will be vital in advancing our research and development objectives, driving innovation, and enhancing our capabilities in product development and analytical sciences.
VP of Business Development & Project Management
Craig Dobbs, Vice President of Business Development & Project Management is responsible for Avecia’s commercial activities including sales, marketing, business development, and project management. Craig brings over 30 years of technical and client experience in the synthetic biomolecule market having initially trained as a nucleic acid, oligo, and peptide chemist at the Rockefeller University and the University of California Irvine before initiating his commercial career. Craig’s leadership and expertise will be instrumental in achieving our business objectives and fostering a culture of excellence within the organization.
General Manager, California
Nathan Poole is the General Manager at the Irvine CA Pharma facility and a recent addition to the Nitto Avecia Team since May 2021. He is responsible for the operational management of the site to ensure the continued development and execution of a world class contract manufacturing organization and analytical service provider. Nathan has over 18 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and combination device industry from which the vast majority has been within the CDMO space. Nathan has broad hands-on experience throughout operations, supply chain, and an extended history in operating through multiple global regulatory markets. Nathan holds a Bachelor degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico.
VP of Quality & Regulatory Affairs
Dr. Qu brings over 20 years of technology development and quality management expertise gained from leading roles in several multinational pharmaceutical companies. Her extensive experience spans Pharmaceutical Quality Systems and Quality Risk Management, encompassing all GxP activities to uphold regulatory compliance, ensure product quality, and protect patient safety. Susan is passionate about cultivating a culture of quality throughout organizations through a holistic approach, collaborating closely with all functional teams. Before joining Nitto Avecia, Dr. Qu held progressive quality leadership positions at Abio-X Holdings, WuXi Biologics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Genzyme Sanofi.
Dr. Qu obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Emory University, and her MBA from Babson College.
Vice President
Masaki Hayashi, Vice President of Nitto Avecia and Nitto Avecia Pharma Services, has more than 20 years of experience in the chemical field at Nitto Denko Corporation. He has held key roles in the R&D, Intellectual Property, Oligonucleotide Drug Discovery, and Corporate Planning Divisions of Nitto Denko Corporation, primarily responsible for strategic planning, business development, and alliances. Most recently, since 2022, he has been responsible for strategic planning for the Human Life Solutions Sector.
Hayashi holds a Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Hyogo.
Executive Chairman
Yoshihiko Terada, Executive Chairman, has been with Nitto Avecia since 2022 and has served as Vice President and Director of the Medical Division at Nitto Denko Corporation since 2015. Before joining Nitto Denko Corporation, Yoshi had 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and consulting firms, respectively. He is committed to contributing to patients and the oligonucleotide market through Nitto Avecia’s excellent capabilities, along with Nitto Denko Corporation’s brand and core technologies. Yoshi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Doshisha University.
VP of Operations
Paul Van Norman, VP of Operations at Nitto Avecia, continues to lead Milford’s manufacturing, facilities, business planning, and shipping teams. Since joining the company in 1995, Paul has dedicated his career to oligonucleotide manufacturing, witnessing Avecia’s evolution from a CMO producing grams of material to an industry leader handling products weighing hundreds of kilograms. He is deeply passionate about the continuous growth of oligonucleotides as a primary therapeutic motif. Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from Worcester State University, along with certificates in Biotechnology Manufacturing, Continuous Process Improvement, and Management and Leadership.
10 Vanderbilt Avenue
Irvine, CA 92618
Tel: (949)-951-4425
Fax: (949) 951-4909
6 Vanderbilt Avenue
Irvine, CA 92618
4 Chrysler
Irvine, CA 92618
