Adaptimmune Therapeutics, an Oxford and Philadelphia-based biotechnology firm specializing in immuno-oncology, has appointed William Roberts to lead investor communications following its IPO on NASDAQ earlier this month.
Will Roberts, vice president of IR
A seasoned IRO focusing on the biotechnology sector, Roberts studied biology at the University of Virginia before starting his career as an associate scientist in molecular genetics for MedImmune ‒ now part of AstraZeneca ‒ and subsequently moving into its IR team. He also gained an MBA from DeVry University’s Keller School of Business.
In 2004 he joined ViroPharma (which was acquired by Shire in 2014), where he spent 10 years. During his tenure as vice president of corporate communications, the firm’s IR department, then led by Robert Doody, achieved recognition at the IR Magazine Awards ‒ US 2013, winning the grand prix for best overall IR as well as the accolade for best IRO in the small-cap category.
Since March 2014, Roberts was serving as vice president of IR and corporate communications at Warrington, Pennsylvania-headquartered Discovery Laboratories.
‘I am delighted to welcome Will to Adaptimmune,’ says CEO James Noble in a release announcing the appointment. ‘Adaptimmune has only recently evolved into a public company, and Will’s wealth of communications experience in US biotechnology companies that have been highly lauded for their investor communications programs and transparency will be essential in order for us to continue our evolution.’
