Alpha Cognition Appoints Robert Wills as Chairman of the Board as Company Advances ZUNVEYL Launch and Neurodegenerative Pipeline
Alpha Cognition Inc. has announced a key leadership transition at the board level, naming Robert Wills as its new Chairman of the Board of Directors. Wills succeeds Len Mertz, who is retiring from the board after several years of service and leadership during a transformative period for the company.
The appointment comes at an important time for Alpha Cognition, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neurodegenerative disorders. As the company works to support the commercial launch of ZUNVEYL and continue advancing its broader product pipeline, the board’s decision signals a focus on experienced leadership capable of guiding Alpha Cognition through its next stage of growth.
In announcing the transition, company executives emphasized both the strategic significance of Wills’ appointment and the lasting impact of Mertz’s tenure as chairman. The leadership change reflects Alpha Cognition’s effort to build on recent progress while positioning itself for continued expansion in the highly competitive neurodegenerative disease space.
Leadership transition comes at a pivotal stage
Alpha Cognition Chief Executive Officer Michael McFadden said the company is pleased to have Wills assume the role of chairman at a time when Alpha Cognition is focused on both commercial execution and long-term pipeline development. According to McFadden, Wills brings a combination of boardroom experience, pharmaceutical industry expertise, and a deep understanding of Alpha Cognition’s strategic priorities.
McFadden noted that Wills’ leadership is expected to be especially valuable as the company works to drive the launch of ZUNVEYL while also pursuing its broader mission of delivering new treatment options to patients living with debilitating neurodegenerative conditions. The company sees his background in drug development, corporate strategy, and governance as an important asset as Alpha Cognition enters a new phase of operational and commercial growth.
The CEO also underscored the board’s confidence that Wills can help steer the company through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. With Alpha Cognition balancing the demands of commercialization, pipeline execution, and corporate growth, the chairman role is likely to be central to maintaining strategic focus and ensuring strong governance as the company evolves.
Robert Wills brings decades of pharmaceutical and board experience
Wills joins the chairmanship with a long record of leadership across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. He has served on Alpha Cognition’s Board of Directors since 2025, and currently holds the role of Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee while also serving as a member of the company’s Audit Committee. His familiarity with Alpha Cognition’s business, strategic priorities, and governance framework gives him continuity as he steps into the top board leadership position.
Beyond Alpha Cognition, Wills has held a number of senior board and executive positions in the life sciences industry. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Milestone Pharmaceuticals and is also a board member at Parion Sciences. His previous board leadership includes serving as Chairman of the Board of CymaBay Therapeutics prior to that company’s acquisition by Gilead Sciences in March 2024. He also served on the board of Oncternal Therapeutics from 2019 to 2025 and was Executive Chairman of GTx, Inc. from 2015 to 2019.
Wills’ industry credentials extend well beyond board service. Before focusing on biotech and pharmaceutical governance roles, he spent more than 25 years at Johnson & Johnson, where he held a range of senior leadership positions. Among them were Vice President of Alliance Management at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and Senior Vice President of Global Development. In the latter role, he oversaw the research and development pipeline and served as a member of the company’s R&D Board of Directors, placing him at the center of major development and portfolio decisions.
His academic background also reflects deep expertise in pharmaceutical sciences. Wills earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Master of Science in Pharmaceutics from the University of Wisconsin, followed by a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Texas. That blend of scientific training, large-pharma operational experience, and public company board leadership gives him a broad perspective that could prove valuable as Alpha Cognition continues to expand its commercial and clinical ambitions.
Wills signals commitment to Alpha Cognition’s next chapter
Commenting on his appointment, Wills said he is honored to take on the chairman role at what he described as an important stage in Alpha Cognition’s development. He pointed to the company’s recent progress in advancing its mission to improve the lives of patients with neurodegenerative diseases and indicated that he sees substantial opportunity to build on that momentum.
Wills said he looks forward to working closely with Alpha Cognition’s board and management team as the company continues to pursue its long-term strategy. His comments suggest a focus not only on near-term priorities such as the rollout of ZUNVEYL, but also on the broader effort to establish Alpha Cognition as a meaningful player in the treatment of complex neurological disorders.
For a company operating in a therapeutic area where unmet need remains high and product development timelines can be long, the chairman’s role can be particularly important in aligning corporate strategy with clinical, regulatory, and commercial execution. Wills’ appointment appears intended to provide Alpha Cognition with seasoned oversight as it balances immediate market opportunities with the longer-term work of advancing innovative therapies.
Len Mertz steps down after helping guide the company through a period of change
Wills succeeds Len Mertz, who has served as Chairman of the Board since 2021. During his tenure, Mertz oversaw the board during a consequential period for Alpha Cognition as the company moved through multiple stages of development and strategic progress.
According to the company, Mertz played an important role in helping Alpha Cognition strengthen its corporate governance framework, navigate key operational milestones, and advance broader strategic objectives. His leadership came during a time when the company was evolving its business, refining its focus, and positioning itself to move from development-stage activities toward commercial execution.
McFadden praised Mertz for the guidance and stability he brought to Alpha Cognition during what he described as a pivotal period in the company’s history. He said Mertz’s contributions helped shape the company’s trajectory and supported its evolution as it pursued growth opportunities in neurodegenerative disease treatment.
The company also expressed appreciation for Mertz’s years of dedication and service, emphasizing that his stewardship has left a lasting mark on Alpha Cognition’s development. As he departs the board, Alpha Cognition is framing the transition not only as a leadership change, but also as a moment to recognize the work that helped position the company for its next phase.
Board transition aligns with broader company ambitions
The appointment of a new chairman comes as Alpha Cognition seeks to capitalize on recent momentum and continue building its presence in the neurodegenerative disease space. The company’s focus on the commercial launch of ZUNVEYL is likely to remain central in the near term, but its broader ambitions extend beyond a single product. Alpha Cognition has consistently emphasized its commitment to advancing novel therapies for patients affected by debilitating neurological conditions, an area that remains one of the most challenging and medically urgent segments of the biopharmaceutical industry.
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions continue to represent significant unmet medical need globally, creating both scientific opportunity and commercial complexity for emerging biotech companies. Success in this space requires not only promising therapeutic candidates, but also experienced leadership capable of navigating regulatory requirements, capital allocation decisions, commercialization strategy, and long-term pipeline development.
By elevating Wills to chairman, Alpha Cognition appears to be reinforcing its governance structure with a leader who has firsthand experience across all of those areas. His background in large pharmaceutical development organizations, public biotech boards, strategic transactions, and corporate oversight may help Alpha Cognition as it works to transition from a development-focused company into one with broader commercial and strategic capabilities.
While the board transition does not change Alpha Cognition’s core mission, it does mark an important leadership milestone for the company. Wills takes on the role at a time when Alpha Cognition is seeking to translate years of scientific and corporate work into sustained growth, commercial execution, and continued pipeline advancement.
At the same time, the departure of Mertz closes an important chapter in the company’s evolution. His tenure as chairman coincided with a period of organizational progress and strategic development, and Alpha Cognition’s public acknowledgment of his contributions highlights the role board leadership has played in shaping the company’s path.
As Alpha Cognition moves forward, the combination of a new chairman, a commercial-stage focus around ZUNVEYL, and an ongoing commitment to neurodegenerative disease innovation will likely define the next stage of its story. For investors, industry observers, and patients watching the company’s progress, the leadership transition offers a signal that Alpha Cognition is preparing for a new phase—one centered on growth, execution, and the continued pursuit of therapies for some of the most challenging neurological diseases.
About Alpha Cognition Inc.
Alpha Cognition Inc. is a commercial stage, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Cognitive Impairment with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (“mTBI”), for which there are currently no approved treatment options.
ZUNVEYL is a patented acetylcholinesterase inhibitor approved for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease in adults. ZUNVEYL’s active metabolite is differentiated from donepezil and rivastigmine in that it binds neuronal nicotinic receptors, including the alpha-7 subtype, which has been studied in preclinical and clinical research. Benzgalantamine is also being developed in combination with memantine to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s dementia, and as a sublingual formulation for Cognitive Impairment with mTBI.
