Extensive industrial experience across pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare products, biotechnology, and food / agribusiness industries
Prior to joining Phytomedics, Dr. Smaldone Alsup, President and CEO, served a distinguished 16-year career at Bristol-Myers Squibb in various executive and R&D roles. Most recently she was VP of Corporate Strategy and Issues Management involved in developing a corporate-wide business risk management capability and process. Previously, Dr. Smaldone Alsup headed Global Regulatory Sciences for the Pharmaceutical Research Institute, overseeing the regulatory approval process and pharmacovigilance for all products. She initially joined the company as a director of clinical research oncology and held clinical development positions of increasing responsibility including oversight for HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases. In these positions, Dr. Smaldone Alsup has played a role in the development of new medications to treat chronic, debilitating, and fatal diseases. She holds an M.D. degree from Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
CFO Art Finnel's background encompasses significant achievements across a group of industries, including biotechnology, food and agriculture, and consumer products. He has considerable experience working with both large and small companies and in developing early-stage businesses into later-stage enterprises. He also brings with him the benefit of a broad base of experience across an array of management functions through his tenures as financial vice president, CFO, and in general management positions. Mr. Finnel has more than thirty years of leadership experience with both public and privately held companies. Most recently, from 2005 through July 2007, Mr. Finnel was CFO of Wellgen Inc., a biotechnology company using nutrigenomics to discover and develop plant-based wellness products. From 1995 - 2004, he was Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Bionova Holding Corporation, an agribusiness biotechnology company. Among other achievements there, he managed its acquisition by Savia S.A. de C. V. and its initial public offering in 1996. Prior to joining Bionova, Mr. Finnel held senior executive positions of increasing responsibility from 1982 through 1995 at Mars Incorporated, the giant global food company. Mr. Finnel holds three degrees from the University of Pennsylvania—a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Wharton School, a Master's Degree in Operations Research, and a Wharton MBA in Finance.
Ira S. Pastor, VP Business Development, holds a B.Sc. in pharmacy from Rutgers University and an M.B.A. from Temple University. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Pastor was employed by SmithKline Beecham, Inc. working on sales and marketing, and on business strategy. Mr. Pastor has also served as Vice President of Corporate Development for the Pharmacy Benefit Management Company Prescription Delivery Systems.