California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) Names Mike Guerra President & CEO of CLSA

Mike Guerra is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience within the California life sciences community. For much of the last 14 years Mike has held senior leadership positions with VWR International, a leading global distributor and manufacturer of products to the life sciences industry. His last role at VWR was Vice President of Sales for the Western Region of the United States with responsibility for companies in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, industrial and production businesses. Mike most recently held the position of Vice President of the Americas for Avidity Science, a worldwide leader in water purification systems and laboratory equipment. While there, he helped build and lead their life sciences business and channel strategy.

“Mike is an outstanding business leader who has worked for years with many of the companies and organizations that are members of CLSA,” said Bill Newell, California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) Board Chair. “He has a passion for the mission of CLSA and a deep appreciation of the tremendous advances being made by California’s life sciences ecosystem. He is also very familiar with the challenges faced by innovative organizations of all sizes. This will be extremely important to CLSA’s continued success as the trade association representing the entire California life sciences sector.

Newell added, “Sara Radcliffe was instrumental in building CLSA since it was formed four years ago by the merger of BayBio and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI). She built a seasoned leadership team, including a stellar advocacy team in Sacramento and Washington, DC who executed a strong advocacy agenda at state and federal levels. She developed a strong brand and reputation for CLSA which created substantial impact and influence across the state for the benefit of patients, consumers, CLSA members and our entire sector. The CLSA Board of Directors thanks her for her service and dedication to CLSA’s mission and wishes her the very best as she pursues new career opportunities.”

Radcliffe said, “I am extremely proud of all that CLSA has accomplished in the four years that I have had the privilege of leading the organization. Our federal, state and local legislative agenda has been vigorously pursued. Our Business Solutions program has delivered real economic value to our member companies. Finally, we have supported and fostered our world-leading entrepreneurial community, which is as vibrant in California as it has ever been. I am delighted to pass the baton to Mike Guerra, with whom I have worked closely in his prior roles. I have always been impressed by his leadership ability, his dedication to excellence and his integrity. I know that with Mike at the helm, CLSA will serve our members well and achieve its vital mission. I thank the CLSA team for all they have accomplished and look forward to working closely with Mike and the team through this transition.”

Mike Guerra said: “Sara has been at the forefront of every major issue affecting California’s life sciences industry during her tenure as President and CEO of CLSA. She has earned the respect of members, policymakers, including elected officials, the venture community and academic institutions alike. I am honored to have been selected to lead the CLSA organization and look forward to growing the association as we continue to cultivate strong relationships with officials locally, in Sacramento and in Congress to ensure that California remains the global leader in life sciences research, economic investment and job creation. Our mission to advocate, connect and innovate for the benefit of our entire California life sciences community will become even more important in the coming years as we focus on bringing more value to patients and communities throughout California.”

• Learn More about the California life sciences sector
• View CLSA’s Legislative Action Center
• Watch CLSA’s Faces of California Biomedical Innovation Web Series
• View CLSA’s Advocacy Priorities
• View upcoming CLSA events
• Meet the CLSA Board of Directors

About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the state’s largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. With offices in Sacramento, San Diego, South San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington DC, CLSA works closely with industry, government, academia and others to shape public policy, improve access to innovative technologies and grow California’s life sciences economy. CLSA serves biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers throughout the Golden State. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

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