Opthea appoints Kathy Connell, GAICD, to the Board of Directors
Connell’s appointment was effective immediately after the Annual General Meeting of the Company on November 15, 2024.
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Opthea has appointed Kathy Connell, GAICD, to the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director. Connell’s appointment was effective immediately after the Annual General Meeting of the Company on November 15, 2024.
About Kathy Connell, GAICD
Connell is a commercial executive with business development expertise across pharmaceutical, vaccine, medtech, consumer, and digital health industries. Her previous work has demonstrated impactful business results and shareholder value that will be beneficial as Opthea prepares for the topline data readout of its pivotal program of sozinibercept in wet AMD. Connell is currently Senior Client Partner and Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences Australia/New Zealand at Korn Ferry. She also serves as Non-Executive Director at Avecho Biotechnology Ltd, Proto Axiom, and BioNSW.
On the subject of her appointment, Kathy Connell said, “Opthea’s innovative approach to delivering superior visual outcomes for patients with blinding eye diseases has the potential to bring life-changing vision improvements to individuals with wet AMD around the world. I am honored to join the Opthea team and be part of this journey. I’m excited to work with Opthea’s Board of Directors and the Executive Team to help drive the Company’s success as we enter this promising new phase of growth.”
Reaction from Opthea
Jeremy Levin, D.Phil, MB BChir, Chairman of the Board of Opthea shared his thoughts on the appointment of Connell to the board, saying, “We are pleased to welcome Kathy Connell to Opthea’s Board of Directors. Her wealth of experience in driving strategic growth and business success in the global healthcare industry will be an invaluable asset as the Company prepares for the sozinibercept Phase 3 data readout and subsequent regulatory and commercial milestones. We believe sozinibercept could represent a medical breakthrough for the treatment of wet AMD.”
In accordance with ASX Listing Rules, Megan Baldwin, PhD, MAICD, retired from the Board as Executive Director. Baldwin will continue to advance Opthea’s innovation agenda in her executive role as Founder and Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) of the Company.
