Cardurion Pharmaceuticals Appoints Karen Lewis as Chief People Officer, Strengthening Leadership Amid Growth
Cardurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing new therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular diseases, has announced the appointment of Karen Lewis as Chief People Officer. With more than 25 years of experience in human resources, Lewis has a proven track record of building organizations and implementing strategic programs that support companies at various stages of growth. She most recently served as Chief People Officer at Apellis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: APLS) during a period of rapid expansion and has held leadership roles in human resources at Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY).
Strategic Leadership for a Growing Organization
The addition of Karen Lewis to Cardurion’s executive team marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory. With her expertise in scaling human resources functions and attracting top-tier talent, Lewis is poised to play a critical role in Cardurion’s next phase of development.
“We’re delighted to welcome Karen, a highly talented industry veteran, to the Cardurion executive team. She brings extensive expertise as an operational leader in developing strategies to attract top talent and scale the human resources function for rapidly growing companies,” said Peter Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer of Cardurion. “I look forward to Karen’s insights and contributions as we position Cardurion for our next phase of growth, further evolving and strengthening our team and culture to achieve our goals as a cardiovascular innovator advancing drugs in the clinic to address the needs of patients.”
Lewis’s appointment aligns with Cardurion’s strategic objective of cultivating a workplace culture that fosters innovation, collaboration, and high performance. As the company advances its pipeline of promising cardiovascular therapies, ensuring a strong organizational foundation will be paramount to its success.
Vision for a Dynamic People Strategy
Recognizing that an effective people strategy is integral to a company’s success, Lewis is committed to implementing initiatives that support employee engagement, retention, and professional development. She emphasized the importance of cultivating a dynamic work environment that empowers employees to excel.
“Investing in developing a people strategy is critical to the success of a rapidly growing biotech company. I look forward to working with the team to create a strategy that attracts, develops, and engages employees while creating a culture where all employees can thrive,” said Karen Lewis. “I am honored and excited to build on the company’s foundation of outstanding science, promising drug programs, and a talented team as we move forward and make Cardurion’s vision for cardiovascular innovation a reality for patients.”
Proven Track Record in HR Leadership
Lewis’s tenure as Chief People Officer at Apellis Pharmaceuticals was marked by transformative leadership, where she led organizational design, culture, and human resources strategy to support the successful launch of two drug products. She played a crucial role in scaling Apellis from 200 to over 900 employees globally and was instrumental in executing a global expansion plan. Under her leadership, Apellis implemented a differentiated talent management approach that significantly contributed to high employee engagement and retention.
Before her time at Apellis, Lewis was responsible for establishing and leading the human resources function at Axcella Health, a start-up biotech company. Her career also includes leadership positions at Biogen, where she served as Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition and held key HR roles supporting U.S. commercial, Asia Pacific, and Latin American operations. Earlier in her career, she worked at Amazon as a global leader of human resources programs and spent a decade at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she held roles in talent acquisition, talent management, and HR business leadership for R&D and commercial functions.
Her transition from a background in biological sciences to a leadership role in human resources underscores her ability to bridge scientific expertise with organizational strategy. Karen Lewis holds a B.S. in biology from Rider University and began her career as a research scientist at a start-up biotech company before pivoting to human resources.
Driving Organizational Growth in the Biotech Industry
Lewis’s appointment comes at a time when Cardurion is experiencing rapid growth and expansion in its cardiovascular drug development initiatives. The company’s leadership is dedicated to strengthening its workforce, optimizing internal structures, and fostering a corporate culture that aligns with its mission to advance breakthrough cardiovascular therapies.
Her experience in navigating high-growth biotech environments will be instrumental in shaping Cardurion’s long-term human resources strategy, ensuring the company remains a competitive employer in the biopharmaceutical industry.
