Board committees

Susannah Gray served as the Chief Financial Officer of Royalty Pharma from January 2005 to December 2018. She was promoted to Executive Vice President of Finance and Strategy in December 2018 and retired from Royalty Pharma in September 2019. Prior to Royalty Pharma, Ms. Gray served as a managing director and senior analyst covering the healthcare sector of CIBC World Markets’ high yield group from 2002 to 2004, and also previously served in similar roles at Merrill Lynch and Chase Securities (predecessor of J.P. Morgan Securities). Ms. Gray holds an MBA from Columbia University and a B.A. in social studies from Wesleyan University.

Dr. DeFord is the chairman, chief executive officer and president of privately-held, South Carolina-based Samothrace Medical Innovations, Inc., which he co-founded in March 2022.  Until his retirement in May 2021, Dr. DeFord was the executive vice president and chief technology officer of Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) (BDX), a global medical technology company, which he joined in December 2017 in connection with its acquisition of C.R. Bard, where he served as senior vice president, science, technology and clinical affairs since June 2007. Dr. DeFord joined Bard in 2004 and served in science and technology roles of increasing responsibility during that time. Prior to joining Bard, Dr. DeFord was managing director of Early Stage Partners, a venture capital fund. Before Early Stage Partners, Dr. DeFord was president and chief executive officer of Cook Incorporated, a privately held medical device manufacturer. He also serves on the board of directors of Nordson Corporation (NDSN),  NuVasive (NUVA), Enable Injections, Inc., Blue Spark, Inc. and GeniPhys, Inc.  DeFord graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in electrical/biomedical engineering. 

Andy Eckert is a Senior Adviser to Permira, a global private equity leader. Prior to Permira, he served as CEO of Zelis, a healthcare payments and cost containment business. Before Zelis, he served as CEO of wound care leader Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI) from 2017 until its sale to 3M in 2019. Prior to joining KCI, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Valence Health, an emerging leader in value-based healthcare, until its sale in 2016. Andy previously served as Chief Executive Officer of TriZetto, a leader in payer information technology (acquired by Cognizant), and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CRC Health Group, a leading behavioral health treatment provider (acquired by Acadia). Earlier in his career, he was Chief Executive Officer of Eclipsys Corporation from 2005 to 2009, and Chief Executive Officer of SumTotal Systems from 2002 to 2005. Andy began his career at ADAC Laboratories, including four years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until its sale to Philips Medical Systems in 2000. Andy has served on several corporate boards and is currently the Chairman of Kipu Health, Lead Director at Fortrea (NASDAQ: FTRE), and a Director at Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX). He was Chairman of Varian Medical Systems for seven years until its acquisition by Siemens Healthineers in 2021. He has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Business Administration, both from Stanford University.

Dr. DeFord is the chairman, chief executive officer and president of privately-held, South Carolina-based Samothrace Medical Innovations, Inc., which he co-founded in March 2022.  Until his retirement in May 2021, Dr. DeFord was the executive vice president and chief technology officer of Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) (BDX), a global medical technology company, which he joined in December 2017 in connection with its acquisition of C.R. Bard, where he served as senior vice president, science, technology and clinical affairs since June 2007. Dr. DeFord joined Bard in 2004 and served in science and technology roles of increasing responsibility during that time. Prior to joining Bard, Dr. DeFord was managing director of Early Stage Partners, a venture capital fund. Before Early Stage Partners, Dr. DeFord was president and chief executive officer of Cook Incorporated, a privately held medical device manufacturer. He also serves on the board of directors of Nordson Corporation (NDSN),  NuVasive (NUVA), Enable Injections, Inc., Blue Spark, Inc. and GeniPhys, Inc.  DeFord graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in electrical/biomedical engineering. 

Susannah Gray served as the Chief Financial Officer of Royalty Pharma from January 2005 to December 2018. She was promoted to Executive Vice President of Finance and Strategy in December 2018 and retired from Royalty Pharma in September 2019. Prior to Royalty Pharma, Ms. Gray served as a managing director and senior analyst covering the healthcare sector of CIBC World Markets’ high yield group from 2002 to 2004, and also previously served in similar roles at Merrill Lynch and Chase Securities (predecessor of J.P. Morgan Securities). Ms. Gray holds an MBA from Columbia University and a B.A. in social studies from Wesleyan University.

Constantine Mihas has served as a member Maravai LifeSciences’s board since March 2016. Mr. Mihas joined GTCR in 2001 where he is currently Co-CEO and Managing Director. Prior to joining GTCR, Mr. Mihas was Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Delray Farms, a specialty food retailer. Prior to Delray Farms, Mr. Mihas was with McKinsey & Company. Mr. Mihas holds an MBA with distinction from the Harvard Business School and a B.S. in finance and economics from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Andy Eckert is a Senior Adviser to Permira, a global private equity leader. Prior to Permira, he served as CEO of Zelis, a healthcare payments and cost containment business. Before Zelis, he served as CEO of wound care leader Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI) from 2017 until its sale to 3M in 2019. Prior to joining KCI, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Valence Health, an emerging leader in value-based healthcare, until its sale in 2016. Andy previously served as Chief Executive Officer of TriZetto, a leader in payer information technology (acquired by Cognizant), and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CRC Health Group, a leading behavioral health treatment provider (acquired by Acadia). Earlier in his career, he was Chief Executive Officer of Eclipsys Corporation from 2005 to 2009, and Chief Executive Officer of SumTotal Systems from 2002 to 2005. Andy began his career at ADAC Laboratories, including four years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until its sale to Philips Medical Systems in 2000. Andy has served on several corporate boards and is currently the Chairman of Kipu Health, Lead Director at Fortrea (NASDAQ: FTRE), and a Director at Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX). He was Chairman of Varian Medical Systems for seven years until its acquisition by Siemens Healthineers in 2021. He has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Business Administration, both from Stanford University.

Sean Cunningham has served as a member of Maravai LifeSciences’s board since March 2016. Mr. Cunningham joined GTCR in 2001 where he is currently a Managing Director, Co-Head of Healthcare. He was previously a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group. Mr. Cunningham holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a B.A. and B.E. in engineering sciences from Dartmouth College.

Gregory T. Lucier has served as a member of Maravai LifeSciences’s board since January 2020. Mr. Lucier is Executive Chariman of Corza Health, a life sciences company, and is a 30+ year veteran of the healthcare industry. Prior to Corza Health, Mr. Lucier was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NuVasive, a global technology leader in minimally invasive spine and orthopedic surgery, from 2015 to 2018. Prior to NuVasive, from 2003 to 2014, Mr. Lucier served as Chairman and CEO of Life Technologies—formerly Invitrogen. Mr. Lucier’s early career included roles as a corporate officer of General Electric Company and as an executive at GE Medical Systems Information Technologies. Lucier is also Chairman of the Board of Dentsply Sirona, serving on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and a member of the Board of Avantor. Lucier holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.