Leading with a vision.

President, North America

Leonard Paolillo

Leonard Paolillo is the President of Merz Therapeutics North America. He leads the commercial strategy and execution of the organization’s expanding product portfolio across the U.S. and Canada businesses, while furthering Merz Therapeutics’ commitment to bringing better outcomes for more patients.

Len has more than two decades of extensive experience in both start-up and global biopharmaceutical sectors. Most recently, he served as the Chief Commercial Officer and subsequently as the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Impel Pharmaceuticals, where Len was instrumental in shaping and executing the corporate, product and commercial strategies. Prior, he was the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Kyowa Kirin Inc., the North American affiliate of Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. In this role, Len spearheaded the growth and transformation of the commercial infrastructure, enabling the successful launches of the company’s pipeline products in hematology/oncology, central nervous system and rare disease. Earlier in his career, Len served as senior director of sales at Warner Chilcott Pharmaceuticals.

Len holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Manhattan College. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, three boys and family dog, and they can often be found rooting for their favorite New York sports teams.

You can view Leonard’s LinkedIn profile HERE.

General Counsel, North America

Terry Crandall

Terry Crandall serves as General Counsel, North America for Merz Therapeutics, where she heads the legal and compliance team for all aspects of the therapeutics business in the U.S. and Canada.

Terry strongly believes that the legal and compliance department best serves the company by operating in a solution-oriented manner, helping to find appropriate ways to support the success of Merz and the achievement of its objectives. Named one of the Top 25 Women in Biotech in 2020 by the Healthcare Technology Report, Terry enjoys rolling up her sleeves and partnering with the business in search of the most effective ways to reach healthcare professionals and patients while maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Terry joined Merz Therapeutics with more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and begun her in-house career with GlaxoSmithKline where she held a number of roles within the Legal Department over the course of 16 years. In 2009, Terry joined ViiV Healthcare, a global joint venture between GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Shionogi focused on the development and commercialization of HIV medicines, as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Following her 8-year tenure at ViiV, Terry served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Ironshore Pharmaceuticals, where she focused upon the commercialization of ADHD medications.

Terry received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and bachelors’ degrees in English and psychology from Bucknell University.

You can view Terry’s LinkedIn profile here.

Chief Financial Officer, North America

Chad Duncan

Chad Duncan is the Chief Financial Officer of North America for Merz Therapeutics, where he partners across the organization to drive the financial strategy and execution.

Chad is a diverse finance leader with broad experience across the healthcare industry including pharmaceutical, diagnostics, medical devices, services, and software. Prior to joining Merz Therapeutics, Chad was the Vice President Finance at Syncardia Systems leading finance for the manufacturer of the only commercial artificial heart. Before Syncardia, Chad held several finance leadership roles at Siemens Healthineers across the diagnostics, imaging, and healthcare software divisions in a mixture of global, U.S., and Asia Pacific focused roles. He worked in various large established and startup businesses within the organization. He led the commercial finance group for a global diagnostics division, as well as, established two new business units within the company as the head of finance, including the enterprise services group in Japan creating long term partnerships with hospitals and the digital incubator group in the U.S. focused on early stage healthcare software ventures.

Chad has a Master of Business Administration from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University.

Chad’s LinkedIn profile can be viewed here.

Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Product Safety

Hadley Iliff

Hadley Iliff serves as the Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Product Safety for Merz Therapeutics, where she leads strategy and execution of new drug and biologic approvals, maintenance of existing products, and safety reporting and pharmacovigilance. Ms. Iliff is dedicated to continuing to pursue new indications and product approvals to provide more available treatments for patients with neurological conditions. Since joining Merz in 2014, Ms. Iliff has managed or contributed to the approval of four new first-line indications for Merz’s neuromodulator, including its first for pediatric patients. Prior to working at Merz, Ms. Iliff worked as a Research Scientist in a computational biochemistry laboratory.

Ms. Iliff holds a Master of Arts in Biochemistry from Duke University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Oberlin College.

You can view Ms. Iliff’s LinkedIn profile here.

VP of Human Resources

Christie Knittel Mabry

Christie Knittel Mabry, Ed.D, is the VP of Human Resources (HR) for Merz Therapeutics North America, where she is responsible for aligning all HR initiatives, including employee relations, leadership development and operational excellence, to the company’s business objectives and corporate values. She brings more than 20 years of human resource and leadership development experience from various industries, spanning from healthcare and biotechnology to finance.

Before joining Merz Therapeutics in 2024, Christie served as Executive Director of People and Experience at Sage Therapeutics, where she led leadership development and functioned as the HR business partner to the Clinical Development and Technical Operations business. Prior to Sage Therapeutics, Christie held several HR roles at Biogen in Global Manufacturing Operations and Global Quality and Regulatory CMC and earlier in her career, with GE Capital as Director, Leadership Development and Organizational Effectiveness.

Christie obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Master of Arts in Organizational Development and Doctorate in Adult Education and Human Resource Development from North Carolina State University. Currently, Christie lives in Raleigh with her husband, Charles, and their three cats, Henry, Rose and Roxie. Christie is an avid reader who also enjoys cooking.

You can view Christie’s LinkedIn profile here.

Vice President, Medical Affairs

Rebecca McKinnon

Rebecca McKinnon, Ph.D., serves as Vice President, Medical Affairs for Merz Therapeutics, where she leads medical affairs strategy and execution, including, field medical science liaisons, investigator-initiated trials, medical education support, medical communications and medical information in the U.S.

Dr. McKinnon has been with Merz since 2010 and is committed to providing the highest level scientific and clinical support within the medical community. Prior to joining Merz, Dr. McKinnon was a Pharmaceutical Consultant with IMS Health, where she had the opportunity to partner with multiple companies in creating strategic portfolio assessments during the development of new products, indications, and the life-cycle management of existing products.

Dr. McKinnon received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.

You can view Dr. McKinnon’s LinkedIn profile here.

Vice President, U.S. Marketing

Jose Naranjo

Jose Naranjo is the Vice President of U.S. Marketing for Merz Therapeutics, where he leverages his more than 20 years of global and U.S. marketing, sales, and operations experience in the pharmaceutical industry in his role championing our U.S. product portfolio.

Before joining Merz Therapeutics in 2022, Jose was the Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Operations at Theramex, where he led commercial strategy and operational excellence. Before Theramex, Jose held leadership sales, marketing, and operations roles at GlaxoSmithKline throughout the U.S., Europe, and Puerto Rico.

Jose obtained his Bachelor of Law degree as well as his Ph.D. from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You can view Jose’s LinkedIn profile here.

Vice President of Sales

Brenden Schultek

Brenden Schultek is the VP of Sales for Merz Therapeutics, where he is responsible for spearheading the strategic direction and Therapeutics sales strategy for the U.S.

Brenden has more than 20 years of strategic commercialization experience, spanning from large Fortune 50 to start-up organizations. Prior to joining Merz Therapeutics in 2024, Brenden was the VP of Strategic Growth at BioXcel Therapeutics, where he led the commercial market development strategy and sales force. Brenden began his career at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals before joining early-stage and start-up organizations, where he built sales functions from the ground up. His experience spans the commercial sphere, including analytics, field design, incentive compensation and market segmentation.

Brenden holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business from Villanova University. He lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with his wife and their two sons. When he can wake up early enough, Brenden enjoys training for long-distance triathlons.

You can view Brenden’s LinkedIn profile here.

Country Manager, Canada

Michael Stone

Michael Stone is the Country Manager, Canada for Merz Therapeutics, where he leads the strategy and commercial operations, including sales, marketing and medical affairs.

Throughout his career, Michael has developed and guided complex patient support programming across therapeutic areas to deliver exceptional patient and healthcare provider experiences and support early and sustained brand uptake. His therapeutic expertise is diverse, having grown innovative brands and championed breakthrough product launches.

Prior to joining Merz Pharma Canada in February 2024, Michael served as General Manager – Canada for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, responsible for the commercial Canada business unit since 2021. Prior, he spent more than 20 years at Eli Lilly Canada, where he held several roles of increasing responsibility in marketing and sales before being named Canadian Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President, Biomedicines; Dermatology, Rheumatology and Neurology (2009) and Oncology (2020). With his deep passion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Michael was also an executive member of both Lilly Canada’s DEI network and Mallinckrodt’s DEI international business unit.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Toronto. He currently resides in Oakville with his wife and spends his weekends hiking and playing hockey in a men’s league.

You can view Michael’s LinkedIn profile here.