January 8, 2026
Leadership
A discerning and agile organization, at Whitehawk Therapeutics we are unafraid to make bold and pragmatic choices. We’re experts in the business of biotech, from therapeutics R&D through commercialization, applying our collective talents to intentional clinical development.
Whitehawk Therapeutics is guided by ADC experts with deep scientific, clinical and operational expertise, as well as leaders with a proven record of successful execution and value creation.
Dave Lennon, PhD
President & CEO
Dave Lennon, PhD
President & CEO
Dr. Lennon joined the Company in October 2023 as President and CEO and member of the board of directors. Dr. Lennon brings more than twenty years of experience leading global biotechnology and pharmaceutical teams, with significant expertise in development and commercialization in oncology. Most recently, Dr. Lennon served as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors at Satellite Bio, a privately held regenerative medicine company. In his prior role he served for 15 years at Novartis, most recently as President, Novartis Gene Therapies where he was responsible for development, approval and launch of the blockbuster Zolgensma®, the first systemic gene therapy for the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy. In prior roles with Novartis, he held leadership roles in Novartis Oncology for the U.S. and Japan regions, having also held key commercial leadership positions in the United States, China and Switzerland. Dr. Lennon started his career as a scientist, cloning a gene important for genomic stability and prevention of cancer. He holds a PhD in Molecular Medicine from Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and a BA in Biophysics from Columbia College of Columbia University. After completing his PhD, Dr. Lennon joined McKinsey & Company, focusing on R&D strategy and strategic transactions in the pharmaceutical industry.
David Dornan, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
David Dornan, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Dornan brings more than two decades of experience in oncology drug discovery and development to Whitehawk, with deep expertise in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other targeted cancer therapies. His research has focused on diverse therapeutic modalities that target cancer vulnerabilities, modulate the immune system and deliver cytotoxic payloads to cancer cells via ADCs. Most recently, Dr. Dornan served as Chief Scientific Officer at Elevation Oncology, where he led the scientific strategy and enabled the company’s pivot to a portfolio of ADCs. Before that, Dr. Dornan was the Chief Scientific Officer at Bolt Biotherapeutics where he led research and development of novel immune-stimulating ADCs. Prior to this he headed Oncology Research at Gilead Sciences, where he oversaw the identification, validation and translation of oncogenic targets into biologic and small molecule therapeutics, as well as led the integrated oncology strategy team. Dr. Dornan began his industry career at Genentech, spending a decade in roles of increasing responsibility and contributing significantly to target discovery, validation, and translational research initiatives. Dr. Dornan received his PhD from the University of Dundee in Molecular Oncology and Biochemistry and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Genentech.
Margaret Dugan, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Margaret Dugan, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Margaret Dugan, MD, joined Whitehawk Therapeutics in December 2025 following more than three decades of oncology drug development leadership roles, with deep expertise in early-stage development. She has overseen more than 12 Phase 1 programs and was responsible for numerous regulatory approvals, including capmatinib, ceritinib, letrozole, temozolomide and photodynamic therapy in a variety of cancers. Dr. Dugan has served on the Board of Directors for BeOne (formerly BeiGene) since February 2022.
Dr. Dugan spent more than 15 years at Novartis, where she built and led the early development organization, advanced multiple programs from proof-of-concept to full clinical development and directly supported global regulatory approvals. She subsequently served as CMO at Dracen Pharmaceuticals, where she advanced the company's first clinical program through Phase 1 and secured Fast Track designation. Dr. Dugan later served as CMO at Schrödinger, where she built the clinical function, delivered three Phase 1 assets into the clinic and advanced a program to Phase 2 readiness in less than 18 months.
Dr. Dugan earned a BA and MD from New York University and completed training there in hematology and oncology.
Scott Giacobello, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Scott Giacobello, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Prior to joining the Company in 2021, Mr. Giacobello held key financial and operational leadership roles in commercial-stage growth companies. As Chief Financial Officer at GW Pharmaceuticals, he played a pivotal role in expanding US operations and preparing for commercial launch, leading the Company's financial strategy and raising more than $620 million ahead of its acquisition by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in 2021. Previously he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Chase Pharmaceuticals until their acquisition by Allergan, where he also held executive roles in corporate finance and global research and development. Mr. Giacobello holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.
Stephen Rodin, JD
SVP & General Counsel
Stephen Rodin, JD
SVP & General Counsel
Mr. Rodin joined the Company in February 2022 as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Most recently he served as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of The Medicines Company, which was acquired by Novartis for $9.7B in January 2020. During his 13-year tenure at The Medicines Company, Steve led or played a substantial role in $750M+ of acquisitions and $650M+ of divestitures. Prior to that, Mr. Rodin was a corporate attorney at Proskauer Rose LLP in New York. He earned a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he currently sits on the Board of Advisors, and an AB from Georgetown University.
Bryan Ball
Chief Technical Operations Officer
Bryan Ball
Chief Technical Operations Officer
Mr. Ball serves as Whitehawk’s Chief Technical Operations Officer, bringing 25 years of experience leading quality, manufacturing and supply chain teams in healthcare-regulated industries. He played a key role in the successful development and approval of the first-in-class TROP2 ADC, Trodelvy, as Chief Quality Officer at Immunomedics. Most recently, Mr. Ball served as the Chief Quality Officer and SVP Operations at Intercept Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw commercial product and prepared the organization to support regulatory submission of pipeline candidates. Before that, he was at Immunomedics until it was acquired by Gilead Sciences, and previously served as SVP, Global Quality and Safety, Health, and Environmental for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Ball holds an MBA from Westminster College, a Master of Science in Biology from the University of North Carolina and a BS in Biology from Central Michigan University.
Laura McLaughlin
Chief People Officer
Laura McLaughlin
Chief People Officer
Laura McLaughlin has served as Chief People Officer for the Company since March 2024. As a fractional leader, Ms. McLaughlin leads all strategic Human Resources efforts for Whitehawk—from organizational design and talent strategy to culture development and employee engagement.
Laura has supported a range of emerging and growth-stage life sciences companies in scaling their people operations during periods of scientific advancement and organizational transformation since founding her firm, Morrigan HR Consulting, LLC, in 2021. Earlier in her career, Ms. McLaughlin held executive and senior HR roles across diverse industries, including as Head of Human Resources at TA Realty and Chief People Officer at Legacy Global Sports. She also spent over a decade in various roles at Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Ms. McLaughlin holds an M.B.A. from Simmons School of Management in Boston and a B.A. from Florida State University.
Andrew Kwon, PhD, MBA
VP, BD & Corporate Strategy
Andrew Kwon, PhD, MBA
VP, BD & Corporate Strategy
Dr. Kwon brings 16 years of biotech industry experience focused on business development and commercial strategy in oncology. In his role at the Company, he has led critical strategic initiatives including the in-licensing of three ADC assets from Chinese CDMO partner, WuXi Biologics. Previously, he held positions at various management consulting and venture capital firms and spending 11 years as a BD and commercial strategy consultant working with top 10 biopharma companies. Dr. Kwon was originally trained as a cancer biologist and has held positions as a Research Scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He received a BS in Biology from Brown University, a PhD in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology from University of California Los Angeles, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Audrey Gross
Head, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Audrey Gross
Head, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Audrey Gross has served as Head, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations for the Company since March 2024, overseeing all integrated external affairs and internal communications for Whitehawk.
Since 2022, Ms. Gross has operated as a fractional communications leader, providing strategic counsel to a range of biotechnology companies across therapeutic areas and development stages, with a strong focus on value creation. Previously, she led communications and investor relations for AveXis/Novartis Gene Therapies, supporting the launch of the first-of-its-kind gene therapy, Zolgensma. Earlier in her career, Ms. Gross spent 10 years as a communications consultant with Real Chemistry.
She holds dual BA degrees in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, and in Psychology, from Southern Methodist University.
Osama Sudah, PhD
VP, Portfolio Management
Osama Sudah, PhD
VP, Portfolio Management
Dr. Sudah joined the Company in April 2025 as Vice President of Portfolio Management. Dr. Sudah brings more than twenty years of multi-disciplinary drug development experience spanning all phases of development. Most recently, Dr. Sudah served as an Executive Director at Intercept Pharmaceuticals with dual responsibilities in program management and program leadership for multiple rare cholestatic liver disease assets. Earlier in his career, Dr. Sudah held several roles in the technical and operational space at Merck & Co. Inc, where he transitioned through roles of increasing responsibility. Dr. Sudah earned his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University, where he also completed his BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering.
Board of Directors
Caley Castelein, MD
Board Chairman
Caley Castelein, MD
Board Chairman
Caley Castelein, MD, has served on our board of directors since March 2017. Dr. Castelein is the Founder and has been a Managing Director for Kearny Venture Partners, a healthcare investment firm, since 2006. Dr. Castelein is also the Founder and has been the Managing Director for KVP Capital, an investment fund, since 2013. He has been a director for Tourmaline Bio (NASDAQ: TRML) since October 2023, and Newbridge Pharmaceuticals since March 2015. Previously, Dr. Castelein served on the board of directors of ViewRay, Inc., a medical device company, from 2008 to October 2023; Alivecor, a medical device company from April 2015 to March 2020; Boreal Genomics, a diagnostics company, from October 2010 to September 2021; Waterstone Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company from March 2015 to March 2018; Wellpartner, a pharmaceutical distribution solutions company, from March 2015 to November 2017; and Neos Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company from March 2015 to July 2015. Dr. Castelein received his M.D. from University of California, San Francisco and his A.B. in Biology from Harvard University. We believe that Dr. Castelein is qualified to serve as a director based on his industry experience and service on multiple company boards.
Neil Desai, PhD
Director
Neil Desai, PhD
Director
Neil Desai, PhD, founded Private Aadi in October 2011 and served as its President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board of directors from inception until the closing of the Merger in August 2021, at which time he became a member of our board of directors and our President and Chief Executive Officer, a role he held until his appointment to the position of Executive Chairman, which he held from January 2023 to October 2024. Dr. Desai currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Aanastra, Inc. (formerly known as Aadigen, Inc.), a private biotechnology company specializing in the development of in vivo targeted RNA therapeutics in the treatment of cancers and genetic diseases. From October 2010 to October 2016, Dr. Desai served as Vice President, Strategic Platforms at Celgene Corporation (now Bristol Myers Squibb), a global biopharmaceutical company. Prior to Celgene, Dr. Desai served as Senior Vice President, Global Research and Development at Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a biotechnology company, from November 2008 until Abraxis BioScience was acquired by Celgene Corporation in October 2010 and as Vice President, Research & Development at Abraxis BioScience from March 1999 to October 2008. Dr. Desai has also previously served in positions of increasing seniority at American BioScience, Inc. and its predecessor companies. Dr. Desai holds a M.S and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, India. We believe Dr. Desai is qualified to serve as a director based on his leadership track record, broad experience in the life sciences industry, and his service as Private Aadi’s founder and our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman.
Behzad Aghazadeh, PhD
Director
Behzad Aghazadeh, PhD
Director
Behzad Aghazadeh, PhD, has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2021. Dr. Aghazadeh currently is the Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager of Avoro Capital Advisors LLC, a global life sciences investment firm with a focus on supporting emerging biotechnology companies, which he joined in July 2011. From March 2017 to October 2020, Dr. Aghazadeh served as Executive Chairman of the board of directors of Immunomedics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company (now a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, Inc.). Dr. Aghazadeh additionally serves on the board of directors of Scribe Therapeutics Inc., a private molecular engineering company developing advanced technologies for CRISPR-based genetic medicine. Dr. Aghazadeh received his Master’s degree in Physics from the Ludwig-Maximilians University (Munich, Germany) and a Ph.D. from Cornell University in Biochemistry & Biophysics. We believe that Dr. Aghazadeh is qualified to serve as a director based on his more than 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including more than 15 years as an institutional investor and previous six years at Booz Allen as a general management consultant to senior executive teams in the healthcare sector. We believe that Dr. Aghazadeh is qualified to serve as a director based on his industry experience and service on multiple company boards.
Anupam Dalal, MD
Director
Anupam Dalal, MD
Director
Anupam Dalal, MD, has served on our board of directors since November 2011. Since August 2016, Dr. Dalal has been working at Acuta Capital Partners, LLC, a financial investment firm. From 2006 to 2016, Dr. Dalal was the Managing Director of Kearny Venture Partners, a healthcare investment firm. He was a Founder and Managing Member of KVP Capital, an investment fund. He served as a director of Akebia Therapeutics from 2008 to 2016. Dr. Dalal received an M.D. from the University of California in San Francisco with honors; an M.B.A., with distinction, from Harvard Business School; and a B.A. in Economics, Phi Beta Kappa and highest honors, from the University of California at Berkeley. We believe that Dr. Dalal is qualified to serve as a director based on his industry experience.
Emma Reeve
Director
Emma Reeve
Director
Emma Reeve has served on our board of directors since September 2021. Ms. Reeve served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a development-stage oncology company, from October 2017, and as its Treasurer from December 2020, until its acquisition in July 2021, and was its Secretary between December 2017 and September 2018. Prior to joining Constellation, Ms. Reeve served as Corporate Controller of Parexel International, a life sciences consulting firm and contract research organization, from September 2014 to October 2017, and as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller of Parexel from July 2016 to May 2017. Previously, Ms. Reeve served as Head of Finance and Administration at Novartis Pharma Schweiz, a pharmaceutical company, from May 2012 to August 2014, and as Vice President, Global Head Business Planning and Analysis for Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, a division of Novartis, from January 2008 to April 2012. Prior to that, she served as the Chief Financial Officer of Inotek Pharmaceuticals Inc., and of Aton Pharma, Inc., and in operational and finance roles at Merck Research Laboratories and Bristol Myers Squibb Company. Ms. Reeve has served as a member of the board of directors of PTC Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, since December 2018, and previously served as a member of the board of directors of Editas Medicine, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, from September 2021 until December 2024. Ms. Reeve holds a B.Sc. in computer science from Imperial College, University of London and is an associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. Ms. Reeve serves on our Audit Committee and she qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under the SEC rules. We believe Ms. Reeve is qualified to serve as a director based on her extensive industry knowledge, financial and accounting expertise as a former chief financial officer and her life sciences expertise.
Richard Maroun, JD
Director
Richard Maroun, JD
Director
Richard Maroun served as a member of Private Aadi’s board of directors from February 2017 until the closing of the Merger in August 2021, at which time he became a member of our board of directors. Since June 2014, Mr. Maroun has served as Partner, General Counsel at Frazier Healthcare Partners, a private equity and venture capital firm. Prior to joining Frazier, Mr. Maroun was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Aptalis Pharma US, Inc. from 2012 through February 2014. Previously, Mr. Maroun has served in numerous senior executive roles for APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a fully-integrated pharmaceutical company, including as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel, and Business Development Officer. Mr. Maroun has also previously held senior positions with Abraxis Bioscience, Inc., a biotechnology company, and American BioScience, Inc., a company involved in the research and development of novel drug compounds. Prior to joining American BioScience, Mr. Maroun was a Director of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, and before that he was a Senior Tax Manager of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Maroun also currently serves as a board member or advisor of several privately-held companies funded by Frazier Healthcare Partners, including Community Care Health Network, LLC, Parata Systems, Inc., Orthotic Holdings, Inc., and AppianRx, and was previously a member of the board of directors of Organovo Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company, from August 2016 to July 2020. Mr. Maroun holds a LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law, a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, and a B.S. degree in economics from John Carroll University. We believe Mr. Maroun is qualified to serve as a director based on his extensive leadership experience in the life sciences industry, his experience in mergers, acquisitions, and finance, and his legal and accounting expertise.
Mohammad Hirmand, MD
Director
Mohammad Hirmand, MD
Director
Mohammad Hirmand, MD, has served on our board of directors since March 2023. Dr. Hirmand is the Co-founder of, and serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of, Avenzo Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company focused on oncology therapeutics. Prior to that, Dr. Hirmand served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Turning Point Therapeutics, a publicly traded precision oncology company, where he was responsible for clinical development, clinical operations and regulatory affairs, from December 2019 until its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in August 2022. Dr. Hirmand also served as Chief Medical Officer of Peloton Therapeutics from May 2017 until its acquisition by Merck & Co., Inc. in November 2019. Before that, Dr. Hirmand served in various roles at Medivation, Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company, from 2007 to 2017, including most recently as its Chief Medical Officer, through its acquisition by Pfizer Inc. Prior to that, Dr. Hirmand held clinical development roles of increasing responsibility at Nuvelo, Inc. (now ARCA Biopharma), SuperGen, Inc. (now Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), Tularik, Inc. (now part of Amgen), and Theravance Biopharma, Inc. Dr. Hirmand currently serves on the board of directors of Atavistik Bio, Inc., a private biotechnology company developing the next generation of precision allosteric therapeutics. Dr. Hirmand received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and his B.A. in Biological Sciences and Economics from Cornell University. We believe Dr. Hirmand is qualified to serve as a director based on his extensive leadership experience in the life sciences industry and more than 20 years of biotechnology clinical development experience.
Baiteng Zhao, PhD
Director
Baiteng Zhao, PhD
Director
Baiteng Zhao, PhD, has served on our board of directors since December 2024. Dr. Zhao has served as a freelance consultant since August 2024. Prior to such consulting, Dr. Zhao co-founded ProfoundBio in 2018, a clinical-stage biotech company specializing in the development of novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for solid tumors and hematological malignancies, and served as the Chairman and CEO of the company until its acquisition by Genmab for $1.8 billion in May 2024. Prior to ProfoundBio, Dr. Zhao was responsible for the modeling and simulation strategies for the development pipeline and supported preclinical and clinical development of ADC candidates at Seagen (now part of Pfizer) from November 2009 to April 2018. Earlier in his career, Dr. Zhao worked in the Clinical PK/PD group at Merck Research Laboratories (MRL, USA) starting in April 2006. Dr. Zhao currently serves on the board of directors of Piton Therapeutics, Inc., a private biotechnology company focused on the research and development of therapeutics that are informed by a deep
understanding of the biological processes of gut microbial populations and the pathways by which they influence our health and well-being. Dr. Zhao holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Peking University and Ph.D. from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the State University of New York at Buffalo. We believe that Dr. Zhao is qualified to serve as a director based on his extensive industry background and experience in drug development.
Dave Lennon, PhD
President & CEO
Dave Lennon, PhD
President & CEO
Dr. Lennon joined the Company in October 2023 as President and CEO and member of the board of directors. Dr. Lennon brings more than twenty years of experience leading global biotechnology and pharmaceutical teams, with significant expertise in development and commercialization in oncology. Most recently, Dr. Lennon served as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors at Satellite Bio, a privately held regenerative medicine company. In his prior role he served for 15 years at Novartis, most recently as President, Novartis Gene Therapies where he was responsible for development, approval and launch of the blockbuster Zolgensma®, the first systemic gene therapy for the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy. In prior roles with Novartis, he held leadership roles in Novartis Oncology for the U.S. and Japan regions, having also held key commercial leadership positions in the United States, China and Switzerland. Dr. Lennon started his career as a scientist, cloning a gene important for genomic stability and prevention of cancer. He holds a PhD in Molecular Medicine from Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and a BA in Biophysics from Columbia College of Columbia University. After completing his PhD, Dr. Lennon joined McKinsey & Company, focusing on R&D strategy and strategic transactions in the pharmaceutical industry.