Chemify Appoints Biopharma Expert Dr. Alastair Leighton as Chief Operating Officer
Chemify is pleased to announce that Dr. Alastair Leighton has joined the company as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). Dr. Leighton brings nearly 30 years of experience in the biopharma industry, having worked at some of the leading global pharmaceutical companies. His extensive expertise spans manufacturing, supply chain operations, and commercial strategy, making him an invaluable asset to Chemify as it scales its operations to meet the growing demand for its innovative solutions in molecule production.
Dr. Lee Cronin, CEO of Chemify, expressed enthusiasm about the new appointment, saying, “I’m excited to welcome Alastair to Chemify to help us with building and scaling our ability to make complex molecules on demand at scale for our partners using Chemputation.” He continued, “His expertise with large biopharmaceutical organizations will help us continue to meet the strong demand for consistent, reproducible small molecule development.
Dr. Leighton’s previous experience includes key leadership positions that have shaped his strong background in manufacturing and supply chain management. Before joining Chemify, he served as the Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply at MeiraGTx. In this role, Dr. Leighton was instrumental in establishing end-to-end manufacturing and supply chain capabilities for the company’s commercial-stage gene therapies. His experience at MeiraGTx highlights his proficiency in driving operational efficiency and ensuring the seamless delivery of complex therapies to market.
Additionally, Dr. Leighton held several roles at GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, where he served as Vice President and Site Director. He also worked as Senior Director of Supply Chain Operations and Programs at Crucell, a company now part of Johnson & Johnson. His career further includes leadership positions at Novartis, where he was responsible for new primary operations and the startup of their vaccines manufacturing facility, giving him a broad and valuable perspective on both large-scale manufacturing and innovative new therapies.
Dr. Leighton holds a BSc in Physics from the University of Sheffield and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manchester, demonstrating his strong foundation in both the scientific and technical aspects of biopharma and manufacturing.
“I’m excited to work with Lee and the team to scale Chemify’s operational capabilities and meet the unmet customer demand for the design and synthesis of complex small molecules and innovative new drugs,” said Dr. Leighton. “Chemify is uniquely positioned to disrupt the industry through its AI, digital chemistry, and robotics platform that will not only optimize and expedite the discovery of novel molecules but also accelerate the availability of life-saving treatments for patients.”
At Chemify, Dr. Leighton will play a key role in advancing the company’s mission to revolutionize the field of chemistry through digitalization. Chemify’s groundbreaking approach to chemical research and synthesis is powered by its proprietary process known as Chemputation. This process combines robotics and artificial intelligence to design and synthesize molecules at an unprecedented speed, offering solutions far more efficient than traditional methods. As the company seeks to scale its operations, Dr. Leighton’s leadership will be crucial in helping Chemify expand its capabilities and meet the growing needs of its partners and customers in biopharma and related industries.
Chemify’s ability to create complex molecules on demand is a game-changer for the industry, with applications spanning from drug discovery to advanced materials. The company’s platform provides a digital-first approach to chemistry, making it faster, cheaper, and more scalable than ever before. Chemify is not just about accelerating the design of molecules but is also dedicated to the development of life-saving treatments for patients, bringing critical therapies to market more quickly.
“I am thrilled to be part of Chemify’s journey and to contribute to the company’s growth as we reshape the future of chemistry,” Dr. Leighton concluded. “The potential of Chemify’s technology to revolutionize how we design and manufacture molecules will have a profound impact on the biopharma industry and beyond.”
About Chemify
Chemify is a deep tech chemical science company that is reimagining the research, discovery, and synthesis of novel molecules for medicines and advanced materials. By revolutionizing the field of chemistry through digitalization, Chemify is changing how molecules are created. The company leverages its unique platform, known as Chemputation, which combines cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence to accelerate the design and synthesis of superior molecules.
Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Chemify was founded by Professor Lee Cronin and spun out from the Digital Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Glasgow. The company is on a mission to digitalize chemistry on a global scale, aiming to make significant advances in both science and technology for the betterment of humanity. Through its innovative approach, Chemify is paving the way for faster and more efficient molecule production, opening up new possibilities for drug development and other critical applications in the biopharma and advanced materials sectors.
