Karen LaRochelle is an accomplished biopharma collaborations leader with over 30 years of experience in strategy and transactions. In January, Karen was appointed Senior Vice President of Merz Therapeutics heading Business Development and Strategy. Karen held full time and consulting Chief Business Officer roles for multiple additional biotechs focused on oncology, immunology and neuroscience for over a decade. She spent the two decades prior with Bristol-Myers Squibb executing over 50 industry leading transactions spanning research, development and commercial initiatives. Her contributions have been instrumental in creating transformative partnerships, with some valued in the billions. Karen served on the Board of Directors of PaxMedica, a clinical stage autism company. She holds an MBA from Columbia University and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University where she serves as Chair-elect on the P.C Rossin School of Engineering Advisory Board.