Board of Directors

Martin Carroll was appointed as our Chairman of the Board in June 2022. Mr. Carroll served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation and of Boehringer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from  2003 until 2011 and as a director of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation from 2003 until December 2012. Mr. Carroll worked at Merck & Co., Inc. from 1976 to 2001. From 1972 to 1976, Mr. Carroll served in the United States Air Force where he attained the rank of Captain. He served as a director of Catalent Pharma Solutions from July 2015 to December 2024 and was Lead Director from October 2021 to June 2023. Mr. Carroll has served on a number of boards of directors, including Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation (acquired by Rocket Pharmaceutical), Durata Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Actavis), Vivus, Inc., Therapeutics MD, Mallinckrodt plc and Accredo Heath. 

Mr. Carroll received a B.A. in accounting and economics from the College of the Holy Cross and an M.B.A. from Babson College.

Sheldon L. Koenig has served as our Chief Executive Officer since May 2021 and was appointed to our Board in May 2021. Prior to holding those positions, Mr. Koenig served as our Chief Operating Officer since December 2020. Prior to joining Esperion, Mr. Koenig served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from January 2019 to August 2020 until it was acquired by Alexion. From January 2016 to July 2018, Mr. Koenig was Senior Vice President and Head of the cardiovascular franchise for Sanofi S.A. (NASDAQ: SNY), a pharmaceutical and healthcare company, where he led U.S. business operations and product launches internationally. Prior to that, Mr. Koenig served as Vice President and Global Brand Leader for the cardiovascular division of Merck & Co, Inc. where, for more than 25 years, he took on roles of increasing responsibility within the company’s cardiovascular and thrombosis franchises and led marketing for the launch of ezetimibe.

Mr. Koenig holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Monmouth University and a Bachelor of Applied Science from Drexel University. 

Seth H.Z. Fischer was appointed to our Board in October 2021. Mr. Fischer brings over 40 years of experience and a distinguished record of results in key leadership positions within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Milestone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Previously, Mr. Fischer served as the Chief Executive Officer and as a director of Vivus, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS), a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company commercializing and developing innovative, next-generation therapies to address unmet needs from September 2013 to December 2017. Prior to Vivus, Mr. Fischer served in various positions of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson, most recently as company group chairman, Johnson & Johnson and worldwide franchise chairman of Cordis Corporation. Before that, he served as company group chairman, North America Pharmaceuticals, which included responsibilities for Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Janssen and Scios. Prior to that, Mr. Fischer served as President of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Fischer also served on the boards of directors of Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNS), Agile Therapeutics, Inc., Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPPI) and BioSig Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: BSGM).

Mr. Fischer holds a Bachelor of General Studies from Ohio University and previously served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. 

Robert E. Hoffman is currently a member of the board of directors of TuHURA Biosciences, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, as well as a member of the board of directors of Fibrobiologics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBLG), a clinical stage company focused on treating chronic diseases.  From November 2021 to October 2024, Mr. Hoffman served as President, CEO, interim Chief Financial Officer and Chairperson of the board of directors of Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTRA), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new cancer therapies.  Mr. Hoffman previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HRTX), a commercial-stage biotechnology company, from April 2017 to October 2020, and as Chief Financial Officer of AnaptysBio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANAB), a specialty pharmaceutical company, from July 2015 to September 2016. From June 2012 to July 2015, Mr. Hoffman served as the Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Arena”), a biopharmaceutical company, prior to its acquisition by Pfizer Inc. in March 2022. From August 2011 to June 2012 and previously from December 2005 to March 2011, Mr. Hoffman served as Arena’s Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer and in a number of various roles of increasing responsibility from 1997 to December 2005. Mr. Hoffman was a member of the board of directors of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited (Nasdaq: ASLN), a dermatology-focused biotechnology company from October 2018 to November 2024. 

Mr. Hoffman formerly served as a member of the board of directors of Saniona AB, a biopharmaceutical company, from September 2021 to May 2022, and as a member of the board of directors of Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA), a cancer research company, from March 2015 to August 2021. He also previously served as a member of the boards of directors of CombiMatrix Corporation, a molecular diagnostics company, MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and Aravive, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARAV), a clinical stage biotechnology company. Mr. Hoffman serves as a member of the steering committee of the Association of Bioscience Financial Officers. Mr. Hoffman formerly served as a director and President of the San Diego Chapter of Financial Executives International and was an advisor to the Financial Accounting Standard Board, from 2010 to 2020, advising the U.S. accounting rulemaking organization on emerging issues and new financial guidance.

Mr. Hoffman holds a B.B.A. from St. Bonaventure University. 

Stephen Rocamboli currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of BobcatBio, Inc. since July 2024. Previously, Mr. Rocamboli served as Chief Executive Officer of Innovatrx, Inc. (formerly known as Perla Therapeutics, Inc.), a company developing therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, between June 2020 and July 2024, and Chief Business Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Candel Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CADL), an immuno-oncology company based in Needham, Massachusetts, between April 2015 and May 2020. Between 2010 and April 2015, Mr. Rocamboli served as General Partner of Integrin Partners, LLC, a consulting firm providing corporate development, strategic transaction advisory and general counsel services to life science companies, investors and entrepreneurs. Between 2010 and 2012, Mr. Rocamboli also served as Partner of Beijing International Group, an international affiliate of Integrin Partners. Between 2014 and 2015, Mr. Rocamboli also served as Special Counsel to Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton, LLP, focusing on life sciences transactions.

Between 2008 and 2018, Mr. Rocamboli was a co-founder and served as President of Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals, Inc., until its sale to Daré Bioscience, Inc. Prior to joining Pear Tree Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Rocamboli spent nearly a decade as a senior executive of a New York, NY based private FINRA/SEC member investment bank, venture capital firm, and affiliated hedge funds, focused exclusively on biotechnology and specialty pharmaceuticals. Mr. Rocamboli held positions of increasing responsibility, with the last five years as Senior Managing Director and General Counsel of all business units.

Mr. Rocamboli received his B.A. degree from The State University of New York at Albany and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

Jay P. Shepard was appointed to our Board in May 2018. Mr. Shepard currently serves as an advisor at Catalys Pacific, a venture group licensing drug programs and creating new companies in the U.S. and Japan. Mr. Shepard previously was President and Chief Executive Officer of Aravive Inc. (formerly Versartis, Inc.) (NASDAQ: ARAV), a clinical stage oncology company, from May 2015 to January 2020 when he retired. From 2013 to 2015 Mr. Shepard was Executive Chairman of Versartis, Inc. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Shepard was the Executive Partner at Sofinnova Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on the healthcare industry. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Shepard served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and was a member of the board of directors of NextWave Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Pfizer), a specialty pediatric pharmaceutical company. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Shepard served as interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Relypsa (Ilypsa Inc.'s spin-out company, which was acquired by Galencia), a pharmaceutical company. Mr. Shepard was also Vice President of Commercial Operations at Telik and Oncology Business Unit Head of Alza Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Johnson & Johnson). Mr. Shepard has over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and drug delivery arenas. Mr. Shepard has participated in or led over 16 product launches by preparing markets and establishing sales and marketing operations. Mr. Shepard also currently serves on the board of directors of the public company, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: INO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing DNA medicines. In addition, Mr. Shepard serves on the boards of directors of Cessation Therapeutics, Inc. and Aculys Pharma, Inc., each a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Shepard is an observer with Pathalys Pharma, Inc., each of which is a privately held company. Mr. Shepard also serves on the board of directors of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

Mr. Shepard holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. 

Since April 2022, Mr. Thompson has been the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors at Cerevance, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on neurodegenerative, psychiatric, and CNS-controlled metabolic disorders. Mr. Thompson is also currently a member of the board of directors of NervGen Pharma Corp, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for neurotrauma and neurologic diseases. Mr. Thompson was previously President & Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Neurana Pharmaceuticals from June 2018 to April 2022. Prior to Neurana, Mr. Thompson was President & CEO of Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc. His previous biotech experience includes serving as Chief Operating Officer for Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Chief Commercial Officer for Trius Therapeutics, Inc. where he was involved in the $700M+ acquisition of Trius Therapeutics by Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as well as a partnership with Bayer Pharma AG.

Prior to Trius Therapeutics, Mr. Thompson served in a range of U.S.  and global leadership roles at Pfizer Inc., including Therapeutic Group Leader of Allergy, Respiratory, Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Inflammation; and he ultimately served as Vice President of Marketing for Pfizer’s Specialty Care Business Unit. While at Pfizer, he led the global commercial development of the torcetrapib/atorvastatin program. Earlier in his career at Merck & Co.,  Mr. Thompson held positions of increasing responsibility in global marketing where he was in product management for Zocor^®, including leading the rollout of the landmark Heart Protection Study. He also was instrumental in the pre-launch planning for Vytorin^® and Zetia^® as part of the European partnership between Merck and Schering-Plough. 

Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Tracy M. Woody has served as a member of our Board since May 2019. Ms. Woody served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cessation Therapeutics, LLC, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, from 2022 until March 2024. Previously she was the Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Protagonist Therapeutics (NASDAQ: PTGX) from April 2020 to July 2022. Ms. Woody previously served as Chief Commercial Officer of Versartis, Inc. from 2017 to 2018 and KemPharm, Inc. from 2015 to 2016. Prior to KemPharm, Ms. Woody was Vice President of Sales and Marketing of NextWave Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer), and Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Greer Laboratories. Ms. Woody also served as a board member of Shorla Pharma. Ms. Woody has over 25 years of commercial experience in pharmaceuticals, biologics, and medical devices, across a wide range of therapeutic areas in diverse markets. Ms. Woody also has experience with multi-billion dollar revenue brands as well as products in the rare disease space. 

Ms. Woody holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion and Applied Physiology from East Carolina University.