EVOFEM - Key Persons


Amy Raskopf

Job Titles:
  • Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
Amy Raskopf has more than 24 years of experience planning and executing investor relations (IR) programs for public and private companies, predominantly working with companies in the healthcare sector whose products have the potential to significantly improve patients' lives. Ms. Raskopf joined Evofem in February 2018, shortly after the Company's transition to the public market and ahead of its first public equity raise. She has worked with the Evofem team to successfully navigate disclosure of statistically significant clinical trial data, the FDA-approval and launch of Phexxi for hormone-free, on-demand contraception, multiple fundraising rounds, and a myriad of other corporate advancements. Since December 2022 she also serves as interim head of business development, focused on partnership and licensing opportunities for Phexxi® (lactic acid, citric acid and potassium bitartrate) in foreign markets. Prior to joining Evofem, Ms. Raskopf was Director of Corporate Communications and IR for women's health therapeutics company Juniper Pharmaceuticals (f/k/a Columbia Laboratories) where during her 14 year tenure she led communications surrounding and was the company's key spokesperson regarding clinical trial results, product licensing, an FDA AdComm meeting, corporate re-branding, M&A and more. She previously held a senior consulting role at In-Site Communications, a healthcare-focused investor relations firm. She began her career at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, working with cross-functional teams in the investor relations and healthcare communications divisions. Ms. Raskopf holds a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College and a Master of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University. Amy Raskopf has more than 24 years of experience planning and executing investor relations (IR) programs for public and private companies, predominantly working with companies in the healthcare sector whose products have the potential to significantly improve patients' lives. Ms. Raskopf joined Evofem in February 2018 and, since December 2022, also serves as interim head of business development.

Colin Rutherford

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Member Governance and Nominating Committee
  • Member of the Evofem Biosciences Board of Directors
Mr. Rutherford has served as a member of the Evofem Biosciences board of directors since November 2015. He recently joined the Board of Spanish Biopharma business, Hifas da Terra SA, which is a leading product innovator in the field of mycotherapy, providing applications for use in both immunotherapy and oncology. He also serves on the Board and is Audit Committee Chairman of Mitchells & Butlers Plc, the UK's largest quoted F&B leisure group. He also serves on the Board and Audit Committee of the quoted Oil & Gas shipping logistics business, Renaissance Services SAOG, based in Muscat and Dubai. He is Chairman of Brookgate Limited, a UK property development business backed by Goldman Sachs and TPG. Mr. Rutherford serves Independently on three private Scottish based family company Boards in Healthcare, Retail and Timber. From 2012 to 2014, Mr. Rutherford served as Chairman of European Healthcare Group Limited, before its acquisition by two US based hedge funds. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Rutherford served as Chairman and CEO of the quoted UK fund management group, MAM Funds Plc. From 2004 to 2009, Mr. Rutherford served as Chairman of SGI Funds, a Guernsey, Cayman and Hong Kong based diversified fund management group. From 2003 to 2006 Mr. Rutherford was Chairman and oversaw the restructuring of Noble House Group Limited, a large UK leisure business which was sold in 2006. In 2002 as Chairman and CEO he led the restructuring and sale of quoted UK finance specialist Euro-Sales Plc with 18 offices across Europe. Mr. Rutherford graduated in Accountancy and Finance from Heriot Watt University and qualified as a chartered accountant with Touche Ross in 1984. Mr. Rutherford is a Harvard Business School Alumni.

Ellen Thomas

Job Titles:
  • Chief of Staff
  • Biosciences' Chief of Staff
Ellen Thomas, Evofem Biosciences' Chief of Staff, has over 30 years of professional experience in board management and corporate governance, healthcare communications, global operations, marketing, thought leader engagement, global meeting/conference event management, pharmaceutical sales, continuing medical education and management consulting. She joined Evofem in January 2013 and has worked for Saundra Pelletier since July 2009. Prior to Evofem, Ms. Thomas spent six years in pharmaceutical sales with Eli Lilly & Company and ten years in private sector pharmaceutical consulting where she provided strategic oversight in the design and implementation of communications, marketing, scientific, and educational programs for multiple therapeutic teams at Pfizer, Eisai, Amgen, Roche, Organon, Pharmacia, Talecris, Quintiles, and Covance. Her therapeutic experience spans women's reproductive health, CNS, anti-infectives, gastroenterology, anti-fungals, cardiology, smoking cessation, endocrinology, ophthalmology, oncology, and nephrology. She previously worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two and a half years in a rural health clinic in Niger, West Africa, and has consulted with International Planned Parenthood Federation. Ms. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan Technological University and a Master's in Public Health from Columbia University in New York.

Ivy Zhang - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Executive
  • Finance
  • Leader
  • Secretary
Ivy Zhang is a trusted leader who is dedicated to advancing Evofem Biosciences' mission of addressing the unmet sexual and reproductive health needs of women. She joined Evofem as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary in April 2023 and leads the Company's finance organization and financial activities including financial planning and analysis, accounting, external audit, tax, controllership, and treasury functions. A seasoned finance executive, Ms. Zhang has more than 14 years of financial and accounting experience spanning diverse industries, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Earlier in her career, she served in finance positions for approximately seven years at Ernst & Young LLP, and for more than two and a half years at SeaSpine Holdings Corporation (a public medical and therapeutic technology and device company). Ms. Zhang joined Evofem in March 2018, serving as Director of SEC Reporting and SOX Compliance until her promotion to Controller in April 2020. She rejoins Evofem from HUYABIO International, where she served as Vice President Controller from November 2022 until April 2023. Ms. Zhang holds a Master's in Assurance from Virginia Tech and a Master's in Economics from the University of Victoria, Canada. She is a certified public accountant (CPA) in the state of California.

KIM P. KAMDAR

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Advisory Board Member of Dr. Eric Topol 's NIH
  • Managing Partner of Domain Associates
  • Member of the Evofem Biosciences Board of Directors
Dr. Kamdar has served as a member of the Evofem Biosciences board of directors since January 2018. Dr. Kamdar is a Managing Partner of Domain Associates, LLC, a life sciences venture capital firm, which she joined in 2005. Dr. Kamdar is current Chair of the board of directors and CEO of Aspen Neuroscience and chair of the board of directors of Truvian Sciences. She also serves on the board of directors of Epic Sciences, Obalon Therapeutics, Omniome, ROX Medical, Sera Prognostics and Singular Genomics. Past investments include Ariosa (acquired by Roche), Corthera (acquired by Novartis), BiPar Sciences (acquire by Sanofi-Aventis) and Achaogen. Formerly, Dr. Kamdar was a Kauffman Fellow with MPM Capital. Prior to joining MPM, Dr. Kamdar was a research director at Novartis, where she built and led a research team that focused on the biology, genetics and genomics of model organisms. Dr. Kamdar is the author of ten papers as well as the inventor on seven patents. Dr. Kamdar received her B.A. from Northwestern University and Ph.D. in biochemistry and genetics from Emory University. Dr. Kamdar serves as an advisory board member of Dr. Eric Topol's NIH supported Clinical and Translational Science Award for Scripps Medicine and is also on the non-profit board for Access Youth Academy, an organization that is transforming the lives of underserved youth through academic enrichment, health and wellness, social responsibility and leadership through squash.

Lisa Rarick

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Member of the Evofem Biosciences Board of Directors
Dr. Rarick has served as a member of the Evofem Biosciences Board of Directors since February 2020. Dr. Rarick is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and regulatory affairs expert with 35 years' experience in women's health and 15 years' experience leading several offices within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Rarick began her career at the FDA in 1988 as a Medical Officer, responsible for the management of products indicated for a variety of reproductive health conditions, including oral, transdermal and vaginal contraceptives. She became the Director for the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products when it was formed in 1996, and later held several management roles in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), including Deputy Director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II and Associate Director in the Office of the Center Director. Her final year at the FDA was spent in the Office of Women's Health, where she focused on HIV prevention, pregnancy prevention, pre- and post-pregnancy care and menopausal therapy. She is currently a reproductive health and regulatory affairs consultant who has helped numerous companies navigate the development of their products from early-stage development through FDA approval. Dr. Rarick received her B.S. and M.D. from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University. She has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development since 2004 and served on the Board of Directors for Alliance Partners 360 from June 2017 - June 2019.

Rachael Hildebrandt - CHRO

Job Titles:
  • Head of Human Resources
Rachael Hildebrandt is the Head of Human Resources for Evofem Biosciences. She brings over 22 years of broad human resources leadership and operations expertise. Since joining Evofem Biosciences in 2015, she has served on our executive management team leading all our human resources functions. Her experience includes talent acquisition, policy design and development, compliance, performance management, employee experience, and total rewards strategies. Prior to joining Evofem Biosciences, she was the head of Human Resources for an REO asset management company for more than six years, before which she was the Human Resources Manager for a trademark licensing firm. Ms. Hildebrandt has her Master of Arts degree in human resources management from National University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).

Saundra Pelletier - CEO, President

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Executive Director
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Member of the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chair of the Board
  • President
Saundra Pelletier has served as Chief Executive Officer, President and Executive Director of Evofem Biosciences since February 2015, and as interim Chair of the Board since November 2021. She has been responsible for the company's growth and evolution, led Evofem's transition to the public market in January 2018, and led multiple equity financing rounds which have raised over $500 million. In her more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Ms. Pelletier has launched pharmaceutical brands worldwide and expanded indications on female healthcare brands in multiple countries. Her experience includes a comprehensive range of women's healthcare products, cardiovascular, pain management and sleep therapies, and medical devices. She has had oversight and accountability for Sales, Marketing, Operations, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, Customer Service, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships. Prior to Evofem, Ms. Pelletier served as Executive Director at Woman Care Global, launching a sustainable supply chain providing access to reproductive healthcare in low- and middle-income countries. She is a published author, keynote speaker, executive coach and staunch advocate for innovation in women's healthcare. Earlier in her career, Ms. Pelletier was Global Franchise Leader for G.D. Searle, where she managed a $250 million business unit overseeing worldwide partnerships. She successfully moved up the corporate ladder, starting as a top performing sales representative, sales trainer, managed care leader, national sales director, domestic and international marketing, vice president of global markets, chief strategy officer, chief executive officer and board chair. She is a Director of TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel targeted therapeutics for cancer, where she serves as the chair of the Governance/Nomination Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Pelletier has appeared at TEDx San Diego, Harvard School of Public Health, Davos World Economic Forum, the Clinton Global Initiative, MAKERS Conference, Women Deliver, University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, University of Oregon's Lundquist School of Business and University of California, San Diego. She was named as a New Champion for Reproductive Health by the United Nations Foundation, awarded the Athena San Diego's Pinnacle Award for Life Sciences, named 2019 Businesswoman of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal, and named to Inc. Magazine's 2020 Female Founders 100 List.

Tony O'Brien

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Member of the Compensation Committee
  • Member of the Evofem Biosciences Board of Directors
Mr. O'Brien has served as a member of the Evofem Biosciences board of directors since January 2018. He served as the Director General of Ireland's Health Service Executive, or HSE. an organization responsible for the provision of health and personal social services for the residents of Ireland from July 2012 to May 2018. Prior to his role as Director General, Mr. O'Brien was the Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Health's Special Delivery Unit and a member of the Department's Management Board. Mr. O'Brien previously served as Director of Clinical Strategy and Programs in the HSE and Chief Executive Officer of the National Treatment Purchase Fund. Mr. O'Brien served as Chief Advisor to the HSE on the implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy, Project Director for the National Plan for Radiation Oncology and is a former Chairman of the National Cancer Registry Board. Mr. O'Brien was the founding Chief Executive Officer of the National Cancer Screening Service from 2007 to May 2011, Director of BreastCheck, CervicalCheck and an Associate and Interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme. Prior to joining the HSE, Mr. O'Brien served as Chief Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association and as the Chief Executive of the UK Family Planning Association. Mr. O'Brien is a Council Member and Associate Faculty Member of the Irish Management Institute, a former Member of the Healthy Ireland Council and a Chartered Director of the Institute of Directors in Ireland. Mr. O'Brien also currently serves as a director and owner of Global Leadership And Governance Solutions Limited, a private limited company organized in the Republic of Ireland. Mr. O'Brien also holds a Master of Sciences in Management Practice from Trinity College, University of Dublin. Mr. O'Brien is Adjunct Assistant Professor in Health Strategy and Management at Trinity College Dublin.