Chris J. Stern
Chairman, CEO
Dr. Stern is best known for his writings and lectures on management techniques and managing multilingual and multinational companies. He is an American and Swiss dual national, and Principal and Founder of the Institute for Efficient Management, which has conducted more than 100 major strategic consulting projects. He also serves on a number of boards. He received his MBA from GSBA in Zurich/State University of New York and a doctorate in business administration from Trinity College & University.
Richard Kiral, PhD
President, COO, and Director
Dr. Richard Kiral has served the company as Vice President Of Research and Development since 1999 and has been responsible for developing products from the perfluorocarbon technology platforms. Prior to joining the company, Dr. Kiral held senior product development, laboratory management, and research and development positions at leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies for more than 35 years. He has a PhD in analytical chemistry and an MS in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame.
J. Melville Engle
Director
Mr. Engle has over 27 years experience in leading both large and small companies. He has raised capital, launched hundreds of products, and has a broad management and financial background, including six years at Dey LP, where he was the firm’s president and CEO. Dey LP, a Napa, CA-based specialty pharmaceutical company, is focused on the development and commercialization of products for respiratory, allergy and other breathing disorders. Engle’s background also includes senior executive positions with Merck Generics Group, a division of Merck KGaA, and Allergan, Inc.
Gregory Pepin
Director
Since 2008, he has been a Senior Vice President at Melixia SA, an investment management company based in Gland, Switzerland. In that position he participated in the formation of Vatea Fund, Segregated Portfolio, a principal stockholder of the Company. From 2005 - 2008, Mr. Pepin was employed as a consultant in finance and insurance by Winter & Associates in France. Mr. Pepin earned the degree of Master of Science and Economy, Finance and Actuaries from HEC Lausanne.
Rene A. Eckert
Director
Rene Eckert was Chairman, CEO & Partner at Boehme Filatex Inc. of Reidsville, NC from 1981 to 2007. He started the specialty chemical company with two partners in 1981. They formed the company into a leading North American textile chemical corporation with subsidiaries in Canada and Mexico. In 2007 the corporation was sold to Dystar, an international dyestuff company.
The Honorable William A. Chatfield
Director
Bill Chatfield most recently served as the Director of the U. S. Selective Service System, having been nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He was directly responsible to the President for the management of the Selective Service System. His background includes more than 30 years of experience working with the executive and legislative branches of the Federal government.
Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck, DO, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Director
Dr. Blanck is chairman of Martin, Blanck & Associates, a federal health services consulting firm based in Falls Church, VA. He began his military career as a medical officer and battalion surgeon in Vietnam, retiring as a Lieutenant General and Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command. He also served as commander of Walter Reed Medical Center and the North Atlantic Region Medical Command. His background also includes serving as president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.