Industry veteran takes the helm as Dr. Ted Love concludes two-year term marked by strategic growth and transition
BOSTON (June 16, 2025) – Today, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced that Fritz Bittenbender, Senior Vice President and Head of Genentech Public Affairs and Access, has been elected Board Chair. Bittenbender assumes the Chair position from Ted W. Love, MD, former president and CEO of Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), who held the position from 2023 to 2025.
The announcement came following Board elections on Monday, June 16, during the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston, June 16 - 19, 2025.
“During his tenure as Board Chair, Ted guided BIO through a time of meaningful transition and great progress for science, medicine, and patients. His leadership was instrumental in shaping our vision for the future. All in our industry are appreciative of Ted’s vision and dedication, and I personally am deeply grateful for his support and partnership during my first year as CEO,” said John F. Crowley, BIO President and CEO.
Crowley continued, “I am also thrilled to welcome Fritz as our new Board Chair. With decades of experience in healthcare policy and market access, Fritz embodies the spirit of our industry—driving innovation with a deep commitment to patients. His vision and leadership at this pivotal moment for the industry will help ensure BIO continues to strengthen and advance the biotechnology sector and that the industry’s breakthrough science reaches those who need it most.”
For more than 20 years, Bittenbender has been a vocal champion for collaborative solutions that improve the healthcare ecosystem on behalf of patients. Prior to joining Genentech, Bittenbender served as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at BIO from 2012 to 2015, where he oversaw a fully integrated public affairs department, including federal and state government relations, communications, alliance development, and membership services.
Bittenbender also served as Executive Director of the Council of State Bioscience Associations and spent several years with Cephalon as Vice President of Global Public Affairs and President of the CephalonCares Foundation. A longstanding member of BIO’s Executive Committee, he most recently served as Vice Chair. He is also a Board Member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“I am honored to assume the role of Chair during such a critical time for the biotech industry, and to continue BIO’s track record of advocacy on the role biotech plays in improving the health of patients and our communities, strengthening our economy, and protecting our national security,” said Bittenbender. “I look forward to collaborating across our BIO membership to drive policies that foster innovation and investment in biotechnology, accelerate research, and ensure access to medicines and biotech solutions that transform and improve our lives.”
BIO’s Executive Committee Directors for the 2025 – 2026 term are:
- Fritz Bittenbender, Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group - Chair
- Frank Watanabe, Arcutis Biotherapeutics - Vice Chair
- Cari Gallman, Bristol Myers Squibb Company - Associate Vice Chair & Secretary
- Tom Mathers, Aer Therapeutics - Treasurer
- Erika Smith, EpiTET Therapeutics - ECS Chair
- Grace Colón, Bloom Science - ECS Vice Chair
- Ted Love, Immediate Past Chair
- Sulagna Bhattacharya, Nanoscope Therapeutics
- Victor Bultó, Novartis
- Bradley Campbell, Amicus Therapeutics
- Deborah Glasser, Sanofi
- Cristin Hubbard, BioMarin Pharmaceutical
- Rachna Khosla, Amgen
- Neil Kumar, BridgeBio Pharma
- Joe LaRosa, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
- Chris Leibman, Biogen
- Jannie Oosthuizen, Merck
- Cindy Perettie, Kite Pharma, a Gilead Company
- Mike Raab, Ardelyx
- Amit Sachdev, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
- Ilya Yuffa, Eli Lilly and Company
- Scott White, Johnson & Johnson
- Daphne Zohar, Seaport Therapeutics
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About BIO
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is the world’s largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.