Board of Directors
André Choulika, Chairman and Chief executive Officer
In addition to his role as co-founder of Cellectis, André Choulika, PhD, is the current chairman of the board of directors and company CEO. A pioneer in the analysis and application of Meganucleases in complex Genome modifications, he obtained his doctorate in molecular virology at the University of Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI, before undertaking post-doctoral studies in the Genetics Department of Harvard Medical School. He developed the first approaches for the application of Meganucleases in human therapies while working in the Molecular Medicine department at Boston Children’s Hospital. He also studied at the HEC School of Management (Challenge + program).
David Sourdive, Director and EVP Corporate Development
David Sourdive, PhD, is a graduate of the École Polytechnique and co-founder of Cellectis. He is the current Executive Vice President of the company. After receiving his degree from the École Polytechnique David Sourdive earned a doctorate in molecular virology at the Institut Pasteur. He then joined one of the top immunology and anti-viral laboratories at the University of Emory, Atlanta, USA, where his work focused on immunological memory. Prior to founding Cellectis, David Sourdive headed the Biotechnology laboratory at the Bouchet Research Center/DGA (French Ministry of Defense). He also studied at the HEC School of Management (Challenge + program).
Alain Godard, Independant Director
Alain Godard received his degree from the École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique in Toulouse. In 1967 he began his career as an agronomist in Africa doing research with the Institut de Recherche pour les Huiles et Oléagineaux. In 1975 he joined Rhône-Poulenc Agrochimie where he held various high-ranking management positions before becoming CEO of the company in 1991. During his time there he successfully developed operations for decentralizing company structures and implementing employee accountability. In 1997 he was appointed to the Rhône-Poulenc Group Executive Committee in charge of “Plant and animal health” and the Group’s global activities in Asia. In 1999 he played a key role in the merger between Hoechst and Rhône-Poulenc to create Aventis. He was appointed CEO of Aventis Cropscience and member of the Group's Executive Committee. He left Aventis in 2002 to settle as wine-grower, while developing a business consultant in the areas of plant biotechnology and management.
Roger J. Hajjar, Permanent Kaminvest Holding Reprensentative, Director
Dr. Roger J. Hajjar graduated from Harvard Medical School and trained in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. He has been a professor at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and director of the Cardiovascular Research Center since January 2007. Before joining Mount Sinai he was Director of the Cardiology Laboratory for Integrative Physiology and Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He also worked as a cardiologist at the Heart Failure and Transplant Center in Boston. Roger Hajjar is the scientific co-founder of NanoCor Therapeutics Inc. and co-founder and member of the Scientific Advisory Board at Celladon Inc. in the United States.
Pierre Bastid, Director
A graduate of the École Centrale in Lyon and INSEAD, Pierre Bastid has 20 years of work experience holding general management positions in international industrial groups including Schlumberger, Schneider Electric, Valeo, and Thomson. In 2005, Pierre Bastid took over Alstom’s “Power Conversion” division for €100 million which he used to create the company Converteam, world leader in the field of power conversion. In 2011 he sold his company to General Electric for €2,700 million.
Laurent Arthaud, Permanent FSI Reprensentative, Director
A graduate of the École Polytechnique and the French National School of Statistics and Economic Administration, Laurent Arthaud was Vice-President of Aventis Capital, the capital investment subsidiary of pharmaceutical group Aventis, and CEO of Pharmavent Partners, before joining CDC Entreprises in 2006 as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. A subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts, CDC Entreprises is in charge of capital investment activities for SMEs with growth potential. In addition, Laurent Arthaud is CEO of the investment fund InnoBio managed by CDC Entreprises in the FSI program – France Investissement. InnoBio invests in biotechnologies with major pharmaceutical companies operating in France.
Annick Schwebig, Director
A graduate of the University of Paris Medical School, Dr. Annick Schwebig worked for 17 years as an Executive Officer at leading pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb. In 2000 she founded the French subsidiary of Actelion where she is currently CEO. Actelion is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to innovative treatments for unmet medical needs. Annick Schwebig is also Vice Chairman of the LEEM Biotechnology Committee in charge of coordinating studies on cell therapy and nanodrugs and General Secretary of ARIIS.