ATCC Expands Leadership Team Through Senior Executive Appointments
In a move that underscores its commitment to advancing science and strengthening operational excellence, ATCC, the global leader in biological materials management and standards, has announced a series of pivotal leadership appointments aimed at accelerating its mission to support high-quality science worldwide. The organization revealed that Rebecca Bradford, MBA, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Government Programs at ATCC Federal Solutions (AFS); Manoj Menon, PhD, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer; and Rupali Lach has assumed the role of Vice President of Commercial Operations.
These appointments reflect a forward-looking strategy by ATCC to bolster its leadership bench with professionals whose extensive experience and vision align with the organization’s ongoing expansion and scientific mission.
Visionary Leadership for a Changing Scientific Landscape
“As members of the Leadership Team, these individuals will each play a critical role in ensuring that ATCC continues to achieve its objectives, while remaining true to our mission in supporting high-quality science globally,” said ATCC President and CEO, Dr. Ruth R. Cheng. “Becky has established herself as a strategic leader and technical expert during her years at ATCC and will ensure we remain a trusted partner with our government agencies.
Manoj brings extensive life sciences industry experience to effectively grow the organization, drive continuous innovation, and enhance its operating efficiency, and Rupali is expanding our global commercial sales and customer experience functions. I look forward to working closely with them as ATCC strives to make sound science possible for the global scientific community.”
These leadership transitions are taking place during a period of dynamic growth and heightened importance for organizations like ATCC, which serve as foundational partners in biomedical research, biomanufacturing, public health, and global biosafety. With the increasing complexity of health threats, from emerging infectious diseases to biosecurity challenges, ATCC’s renewed focus on expertise and operational excellence positions the company to meet both current and future demands.
Rebecca Bradford: A Proven Leader in Government-Funded Scientific Programs
With over two decades of dedicated service at ATCC, Rebecca Bradford has played a crucial role in expanding the organization’s government-facing programs. In her newly elevated role as Senior Vice President of Government Programs, Bradford will lead the strategic vision and operational growth of ATCC Federal Solutions (AFS), which supports a broad portfolio of government contracts addressing chronic and infectious diseases, global health, and biodefense.
Bradford’s tenure at ATCC has been marked by a series of impactful initiatives that align scientific innovation with pressing public health needs. Her leadership has been instrumental in the rapid response to public health emergencies, including the development of countermeasures for infectious disease outbreaks and the scaling of resources during pandemics. One of her recent achievements includes securing critical funding from both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership for the establishment of a new biomanufacturing facility in Manassas, Virginia. This facility aims to support the U.S. bioeconomy by increasing domestic capacity for biological material production.
Her academic credentials underscore her technical and strategic capabilities: an MBA from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School complements her two master’s degrees in Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, also from Hopkins. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Tulsa, grounding her in the life sciences from the start of her career. As a mentor and visionary leader within AFS, Bradford has earned a reputation for building high-performing, mission-driven teams dedicated to advancing science in service of national and global health.
Dr. Manoj Menon: Operational Excellence and Scientific Innovation
Dr. Manoj Menon joins ATCC as Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience across the global biopharmaceutical sector. His new role encompasses responsibility for ATCC’s manufacturing, facilities, materials management, supply chain, and planning operations. Dr. Menon’s appointment signals ATCC’s commitment to scaling operational infrastructure to match its ambitious scientific goals.
Prior to joining ATCC, Dr. Menon served as Managing Director of IDT Biologika Corporation’s U.S. operations, where he oversaw clinical manufacturing and development of viral vaccines, viral vectors, and oncolytic viruses—a critical area of therapeutics and public health intervention. His tenure at IDT, a global CDMO based in Germany, showcased his ability to align process innovation with regulatory and client needs across international markets.
Dr. Menon’s career also includes senior roles at industry giants such as AstraZeneca, where he was Executive Director of Global Technical Operations. There, he led a multinational team supporting biologics manufacturing across internal sites and contract manufacturing partners. Earlier leadership posts at Lonza Biologics in Singapore and Genzyme Corporation further demonstrate his breadth of experience managing complex manufacturing networks and biologics production pipelines.
He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware, one of the nation’s premier programs in the discipline, and earned an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi—an institution known globally for producing leaders in science and technology.
Rupali Lach: Driving Global Commercial Growth and Customer-Centric Innovation
As Vice President of Commercial Operations, Rupali Lach will oversee the development and execution of global sales and marketing strategies, with a focus on enhancing customer experience, product management, and commercial alignment. Her appointment comes at a crucial time as ATCC expands its global footprint and strengthens its outreach to scientific communities worldwide.
With more than 25 years of experience in the biotechnology and life sciences industries, Lach brings a deep understanding of the commercial dynamics that drive innovation and access. She has a proven track record of leading high-performance commercial teams and launching global initiatives across multiple sectors including pharmaceuticals, biotech, diagnostics, and academic research.
Most recently, Lach led commercial functions at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she was responsible for strategic partnerships and market development across the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem. Her previous roles at Becton Dickinson and Genome Therapeutics Corporation provided her with experience navigating the evolving landscapes of genomics and precision medicine.
Lach holds a Master of Liberal Arts in Management from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Molecular Medicine from Clemson University—credentials that combine business acumen with scientific insight.
Building the Future of Scientific Infrastructure
Together, these leaders represent the diverse capabilities needed to advance ATCC’s mission in an increasingly complex and interconnected global scientific landscape. From government partnerships and public health initiatives to operational scale-up and customer-focused commercialization, the organization is strengthening its ability to respond to both routine research needs and global crises.
Their combined expertise positions ATCC to further elevate its role as a cornerstone of the life sciences ecosystem, ensuring that scientists around the world have access to authenticated, high-quality biological materials and expert support services.
As ATCC continues to evolve, the appointments of Bradford, Menon, and Lach reaffirm the organization’s unwavering commitment to scientific integrity, strategic growth, and global impact.
