Synthego is a genome engineering company that enables the acceleration of life science research and development. Based on a foundation of engineering and chemistry, the company leverages automation and machine learning to synthesize high-quality CRISPR reagents for science at scale. Synthego’s mission is to enable agile life science research and development from discovery through clinical trials by providing scientists with comprehensive CRISPR solutions for each phase of development. The company’s technologies have been cited in hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and utilized by thousands of commercial and academic researchers and therapeutic drug developers, placing Synthego at the forefront of innovation and enabling the next generation of medicines by delivering genome editing at an unprecedented scale.
EXECUTIVE BUILD
LEAD was honored to work with Paul Dabrowski on Craig Christianson’s recent appointment as Chief Executive Officer. We placed John Tan as Chief Operating Officer at Synthego (promoted to President) and had involvement in John’s recent appointment as CEO of EditCo Bio; and Ricardo Fonesca as Vice President of Manufacturing Operations & Global Supply Chain.
THE CHALLENGE
Our team began working with Synthego after a Series C raise led by Founders Fund with participation from existing investors 8VC and Menlo Ventures. The founders’ mission of industrializing biology set a distinctively high benchmark for world class talent capable of advancing the company’s engineering-meets-biology technologies, including guide RNA and cell engineering platforms.
After successfully placing John Tan as Chief Operating Officer, CEO Paul Dabrowski tasked LEAD with identifying Synthego’s next Chief Executive Officer, an executive capable of continuing the company’s visionary mission of accelerating and enabling next-generation medicines.
THE SOLUTION
We looked to a deep network of executives in the genetic landscape to identify a Chief Executive Officer with a stellar record of commercializing complex and innovative technologies in settings of excellence. During the extensive search, LEAD focused on continually aligning candidate skill sets with Synthego’s ongoing strategic considerations.
IMPACT
Synthego has transformed the CRISPR landscape, providing individual scientists and the world’s leading biotechnology companies alike with unprecedented access to advanced genome engineering. Synthego opened a state-of-the-art GMP Guide RNA manufacturing facility in which John Tan played an integral role.
In March of 2024, Synthego announced the appointment of CEO Craig Christianson and the divestiture of its Eclipse Cell Engineering platform, further enabling Synthego’s focus on therapeutic applications of CRISPR. John Tan was appointed as CEO of EditCo Bio and will lead the positioning and delivery of edited cells and gRNA technologies in research and preclinical settings. EditCo Bio will operate independently with support from Telegraph Partners.