bluebird bio is developing innovative gene therapies for severe genetic diseases and cancer. Its vision is to make the hope of gene therapy a reality.

Biotechnology

bluebird bio

Andrew Obenshain is president and CEO of bluebird bio.

A biotech business leader who is passionate about improving the lives of patients and their families, Andrew has dedicated his career to advancing therapies for rare diseases. He joined bluebird in 2016 as head of Europe and then served as President, Severe Genetic Diseases before being appointed to CEO in 2021. Today, Andrew is a champion for bluebird’s lentiviral vector gene therapy platform, as the company as the company prepares to launch three first-in-class therapies.

Prior to bluebird bio, Andrew served as general manager of France and Benelux at Shire where he was responsible for a portfolio that included seven rare disease products. Andrew spent eight years at Genzyme and Sanofi and held roles in business development, marketing and global commercial operations in both the US and Europe.

He began his career working with small biotech companies first as a consultant and then as a venture capital investor. He received his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 2004 and his B.A. in genetics, cell and developmental biology from Dartmouth College.

Andrew Obenshain

Jason Cole is chief strategy and finance officer at bluebird bio. In this role he oversees core functions including corporate strategy, external affairs, finance, IT and operations. Jason previously served as bluebird’s chief operating & legal officer, chief legal officer and senior vice president, general counsel. Prior to joining bluebird in 2014, Jason served as executive vice president, corporate development and general counsel at Zalicus Inc. from September 2011 through March 2014, and as senior vice president, general counsel of Zalicus, and its predecessor company CombinatoRx, Inc. from January 2006 to September 2011. From 1999 to 2006, Jason was a corporate and securities attorney at Ropes & Gray LLP. Mr. Cole holds an A.B. in government from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

Jason F. Cole

Andrea Walton

Nick Leschly

Melissa Bonner, Ph.D. is senior vice president of research at bluebird bio. Prior to joining bluebird bio in 2014, Melissa was at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for her postdoctoral training in the laboratory of the late Dr. Brian Sorrentino working on projects aimed at improving cell and gene therapy products; ranging from HSC expansion technologies to next-generation lentiviral vector production methods. Melissa received her Ph.D. in biology from University of Delaware and a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology from University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Melissa Bonner

Kasra Kasraian brings over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to bluebird bio, Kasra led the Technical Operation, Quality, and Regulatory CMC function at Zafgen. Before Zafgen, he held scientific and leadership roles at Genetics Institute, Pfizer, Wyeth, and Biogen in the areas of formulation development, process development, technical services, manufacturing, and CMC management encompassing both early phase development through commercialization for both small molecules and biologics. During his tenure at Biogen the CMC team he led guided the submission and approval of 4 BLAs/MAAs. As the Head of Technical Development & Operations at bluebird bio, Kasra oversees process development, analytical development, manufacturing sciences, manufacturing, patient operations, and supply chain. 

Kasra Kasraian

Scott Shoemaker is Senior Vice President and Head of Quality for bluebird bio. Scott has been with bluebird bio since 2017 where he has held leadership positions in manufacturing and quality. Prior to joining bluebird Scott held leadership positions in development, technical operations, and manufacturing with both Merck and Takeda, focusing mainly on live virus vaccine products. Scott is a chemical engineer by training with a B.S. from Drexel University and PhD from Princeton. 

Scott Shoemaker

Prior to bluebird bio, Helen was a corporate attorney in the life sciences practice at Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston. Helen received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and B.A. with the majors in biology and economics from Swarthmore College.

Helen Fu

Tom, who joined the flock in May of 2021 as the Chief Commercial Officer, has deep passion for patients and experience across multiple commercial roles in both rare diseases and oncology. Most recently, Tom served as Chief Commercial Officer at [Gamida Cell](/org/gamida-cell), leading a high-growth, fast paced oncology cell therapy organization and establishing a culture of transparency, trust and empowerment. Prior to his tenure at [Gamida Cell](/org/gamida-cell), Tom served in a variety of leadership roles at [Atara Biotherapeutics](/org/atara-biotherapeutics), [Navidea Biopharmaceuticals](/org/navidea-biopharmaceuticals) and Algeta U.S. where he led the successful commercial build-out and launch of Xofigo®. Before Algeta, he held various commercial leadership positions at Dendreon. Tom began his pharmaceutical career at [Eli Lilly](/org/eli-lilly) where he held several positions of increasing responsibility and participated in the global launch of Cymbalta®. Tom earned a B.A. in Business Administration and Marketing from Western State College.

Tom Klima

Leslie Wilder, Vice President, Head of Regulatory Science, joined bluebird bio in 2018 as lead of the Regulatory Science CMC team. In 2022, she stepped in to lead the Regulatory Science organization with a focus on bringing treatment options to severe genetic patients and their families.

Prior to joining bluebird, Leslie held regulatory positions at Alexion, Synageva, and Genzyme. While at Genzyme, Leslie was a founding member of the Molecule Steward Team, where she provided technical oversight for post-approval lifecycle management of an enzyme replacement protein, an experience that she considers her MSAT sabbatical. Leslie is a graduate of Union College, from which she holds BS, MS degrees in Biology with extensive coursework in Chemistry.

Leslie Wilder

Sarah Alspach joined the flock in September 2021 as Chief Communications Officer. Sarah oversees corporate communications, investor relations, and patient advocacy and is focused on driving bluebird’s external engagement as we pursue curative gene therapies for severe genetic diseases.

Prior to joining bluebird, Sarah served as Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for the [Cystic Fibrosis Foundation](/org/cystic-fibrosis-foundation), the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. She also spent more than a decade at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) where she was Vice President for U.S. Pharma and Corporate Communications, with responsibility for communications, corporate brand and reputation, and philanthropic giving in the US. Sarah holds a B.S. in public relations from the University of Texas at Austin and lives outside of Washington, DC with her husband and three children.

Sarah Alspach

John O. Agwunobi, M.D., has served as a member of our board of directors since June 2017. Since February 2016, Dr. Agwunobi has served as chief health and nutrition officer at [Herbalife](/org/herbalife) Nutrition Institute, responsible for training, education, science strategy and product development. Prior to joining [Herbalife](/org/herbalife), Dr. Agwunobi was an independent consultant, advising a number of privately-held health-related companies, including serving as an advisory board member of [Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC](/org/shopko-stores-operating-co-llc) on behalf of the private equity firm [Sun Capital Partners](/org/sun-capital-partners). From September 2007 to April 2014, Dr. Agwunobi served as senior vice president and president of health and wellness for Wal-Mart in the United States where he grew the business and provided insight and advice on the company’s health reform position. From December 2005 to September 2007, he served as the assistant secretary of health for the [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services](/org/u-s-department-of-health-and-human-services), where he was responsible for disease prevention and health promotion. His responsibilities included the oversight of the Centers for Disease Control, National Institute of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the office of the U.S. Surgeon General, and numerous other public health offices and programs. Dr. Agwunobi has served on numerous boards, including currently as a director at Magellan Health Inc. and at the U.S. African Development Foundation. Dr. Agwunobi is a licensed physician in Florida, Maryland and Washington, D.C. He received his medical training at the University of Jos and completed his pediatric residency at Howard University. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from [Johns Hopkins University](/org/johns-hopkins-university) and Master’s in Business Administration from [Georgetown University](/org/georgetown-university).

John O. Agwunobi

Charlotte Jones-Burton

Mark Vachon has served as a member of the board of directors since July 2014. Mr. Vachon served as an executive vice president sales, integration and operations at Change Healthcare Holdings, Inc. from November 2016 to April 2018. For over 30 years, Mr. Vachon held a variety of leadership positions across the [General Electric](/org/general-electric) organization, and was a company officer beginning in 1999 and a member of GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Vachon was president and chief executive officer of [GE Healthcare](/org/ge-healthcare-limited) Americas from 2009 and 2010, and prior to that he was president and chief executive officer of Global Diagnostics Imaging, [GE Healthcare](/org/ge-healthcare-limited), between 2006 and 2009. Between 2003 and 2006, Mr. Vachon was executive vice president and chief financial officer of [GE Healthcare](/org/ge-healthcare-limited). Mr. Vachon serves on the board of trustees of [Northeastern University](/org/northeastern-university) and the board of directors of [Numotion](/org/numotion), and the Charitable Health and Retirement Trust. Mr. Vachon holds a B.S. in Finance from [Northeastern University](/org/northeastern-university) and an M.A. from [Boston College](/org/boston-college). 

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