Biolyst Leadership Team

Chief Executive Officer

Jim joined Inverness Graham as part of the Value Creation Group in 2023. His responsibilities include serving on Inverness Graham portfolio company boards and as an advisor to various portfolio company CEOs and management teams, as well as supporting due diligence of investment opportunities in specific markets aligned with his background and experience.

Jim brings over 35 years of progressive executive experience in the highly regulated pharmaceutical, health & wellness, and consumer products sectors. As a seasoned leader, he has successfully guided four companies serving the health and wellness market as President and CEO, enabling stakeholders and investment partners to achieve favorable outcomes. Jim’s transaction experience includes leading the private equity carve-out of Noramco and Purisys from Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals and orchestrating the successful multi-billion-dollar exit of International Specialty Products (ISP) to a strategic buyer.

Chief Technology Officer

Reza Ardekani is Chief Technology Officer of Biolyst Scientific. As Chief Technological Officer, he spearheads the creation of new products, shapes the company’s technology roadmap, and ensures that Biolyst Scientific remains at the cutting edge of solving customer needs. Reza assumed the role upon the successful sale of Azer Scientific, a company he built into a prominent laboratory consumables player as the Founder and CEO.

Reza brings extensive experience in leading national business development strategies, developing intellectual property, managing multi-channel commercial teams, and overseeing operations and distribution.  He has been instrumental in founding, financing, and developing numerous businesses, guiding them from initial concepts to successful enterprises. Reza holds a bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Cytotechnology from Thomas Jefferson University.

“I am committed to driving unparalleled customer value by championing innovation through the power of collaboration and an unwavering focus on customer feedback.”

Chief Operating Officer

John joined Biolyst Scientific as Chief Operating Officer in March 2024.  In this capacity, John leads the Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality functions and is responsible for instilling a culture of operational excellence to reliably and efficiently meet customer needs.

John brings over 25 years of experience in Operations, with leadership roles spanning Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Logistics and Distribution, and Engineering. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer for G&H Photonics, where he gained extensive experience in business integration post-acquisition. Prior to his tenure at G&H Photonics, John held key operational leadership positions at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Corning, and Novanta. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and has earned several Six Sigma and Lean certifications.

“My dedication to operational excellence is relentless, fostering a culture where quality comes first. I am driven to implement sustainable practices that ensure flawless execution, delivering the highest standards for our customers.”

Chief Financial Officer

Bill Sommers was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Biolyst Scientific in April 2024. As CFO, he leads the Finance & IT functions in support of the execution of the company’s strategy through financial control, reporting, analysis, and business systems.

Bill has over 30 years of finance and accounting leadership experience. Recently, he served as CFO for several Private Equity-backed companies, managing financial aspects of high-return transactions, including acquisitions, recapitalizations, and integrations. Earlier in his career, Bill held key roles at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), ICI Plc, Danaher, and Ametek. Bill holds a bachelor’s in Accounting from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, an MBA from the University of Delaware, and is a CPA (inactive) in Pennsylvania.

“I am steadfast in maintaining our robust financial foundation, crucial for supporting our customer-centric strategy and delivering on our value creation promise to investors, ensuring long-term growth and stability.”

Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Revenue Operations

Kap joined Biolyst Scientific as SVP, Marketing and Revenue Operations in May 2024. In this role, he leads the Product Management, Commercial Marketing, and Revenue Operations, collaborating with R&D and Commercial teams to bring innovative solutions to market.

Kap brings over 20 years of experience in portfolio management, marketing campaigns, and sales support. He held senior leadership roles at mid-sized companies where he led programs that drove above-market growth. He has also held roles at ThermoFisher, Danaher, and Avantor, with a proven track record in innovation and commercialization. Kap has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Kent State University and did a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. He also earned an MBA from Babson College.

“I am passionately dedicated to empowering research and clinical scientists through new tools and technologies that push the boundaries of life sciences to advance human health.“

Vice President, Human Resources

Carmella joined Biolyst Scientific as VP, Human Resources in November 2023. She is responsible for providing strategic and tactical HR leadership to the business operations and fostering a positive workplace culture.

Carmella brings over 20 years of experience as an HR executive in global pharmaceutical services, consulting, and healthcare. Her expertise includes HR strategy, organizational development, and total rewards, with a strong background in HR operations, systems, and talent acquisition. Committed to fostering employee growth through collaborative HR programs, Carmella leverages her Positive Psychology master’s degree from The University of Pennsylvania. With a Mathematics degree from Arcadia University, she drives impactful HR initiatives that enhance organizational capability and employee development.

“I am excited to seamlessly align our talent strategies with business goals, ensuring that every employee’s experience enhances customer outcomes.“

Vice President, Sales & Service

Damien joined Biolyst Scientific via Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS) in March 2023 and assumed the role of Vice President of Sales & Service for Biolyst Scientific upon the integration of EMS with Azer Scientific, having responsibility for the direct sales and service teams.

Damien has over 20 years of experience in sales and service in the research and diagnostics markets. He started his career in the lab at the University of Illinois, Chicago, before moving to Danaher, where he advanced to a leadership role and found his passion for sales at Leica Biosystems. Most recently, Damien developed a new portfolio and became the Director of Advanced Diagnostics at StatLab. Damien holds a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology from Benedictine University, a master’s degree in Physiology and Biophysics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

“With deep industry knowledge and passion, I am thrilled to offer our customers the highest level of service and support, committed to exceeding their expectations and fostering long-lasting.“

Sr. Director, Channel Partners & National Accounts

Alicia joined Biolyst Scientific via Azer Scientific and assumed the role of Senior Director of Strategic Sales upon the integration of Azer Scientific with EMS, having responsibility for the channel managers and national accounts.

Alicia has been instrumental in Azer Scientific’s success, serving in various roles from customer service to sales management over her nearly 15-year tenure with the company. Her extensive experience across the customer journey has provided her with deep insights and a passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences. Alicia’s broad knowledge enables her to successfully manage complex B2B relationships, ensuring that customer needs are met with precision and care. Alicia holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Spanish from West Chester University.

“I am inspired by the chance to help customers achieve remarkable productivity gains by delivering practical solutions to their most pressing challenges.“