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Erck stepping down as head of Gaithersburg-based Novavax
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Novavax CEO and President Stanley C. Erck, who led the company during its drive to produce a COVID-19 vaccine, is stepping down, the Gaithersburg-based firm announced Monday.
He will be succeeded by John C. Jacobs, effective Jan. 23, the company said in a news release. Erck will serve as an adviser to the company for the next 15 months.
Erck was named president and CEO in April 2011 and was responsible for bringing the company’s COVID-19 vaccine, its first commercial product, to market in over 40 countries around the world. Novavax created a manufacturing and supply network to support global distribution of its COVID-19 vaccine and advanced its late-stage pipeline with both standalone influenza and COVID-19-influenza combination vaccine candidates.
“As we prepare for Stan’s retirement, the board reflects on the incredible legacy he leaves behind,” said James F. Young, chairman of Novavax’s board of directors. “Stan led Novavax from a clinical development organization to a global commercial vaccines company during a worldwide pandemic.”
Jacobs has more than 25 years of commercial, operations, business and leadership experience across multiple therapeutic areas, the company said. He will join Novavax from Harmony Biosciences, where he has served as president and CEO since June 2018 and as executive vice president and chief commercial officer from October 2017 to June 2018.
Jacobs has held leadership roles at Teva Pharmaceuticals and other major pharmaceutical companies including Cephalon, Wyeth and Pfizer.
