John Potthoff Transitions to Chairman, Barry Simms Promoted to CEO
AUSTIN, Texas; Dec. 19, 2023 (Business Wire) – Elligo Health Research®, the largest healthcare-enabling research organization, today announced that Elligo’s Founder and CEO, John Potthoff, Ph.D., transitioned his leadership to COO, Barry Simms. Potthoff will assume the role of Elligo’s Chairman, while Simms’ responsibilities will change to driving strategic direction as CEO — guiding the team and customers to make research as care more accessible for patients everywhere.
Simms joined Elligo in August, bringing an extensive background in global strategy and partnerships. Prior to Elligo, Simms held key leadership roles, including Interim CEO and COO at LabConnect and over 22 years of experience in the pharmaceutical services industry. “Barry has quickly integrated into the Elligo team, demonstrating exceptional leadership and clear strategic vision,” said Elligo Board Director Melissa Daniels, Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital – a lead investor in the company. “We believe Elligo is well positioned both strategically and financially to be an industry leader with solid growth as we move into 2024.”
“As Elligo continues growing and evolving, the time is ripe for a new chapter in our leadership story,” Potthoff said. “I never imagined when I co-founded Elligo eight years ago that our team would accomplish all that we have, finding solutions to numerous challenges in clinical research, including providing greater access to trials for patients, offering more effective trial support options for sites, and creating streamlined patient recruitment and site selection solutions for sponsors.”
“I am honored to be appointed as CEO of Elligo,” Simms said. “Building on the remarkable foundation laid by John and our dedicated team, we will continue innovating and leveraging our first-of-its-kind approach, expanding access to trials and optimizing the critical intersection of healthcare and research.”
About Elligo Health Research®
Elligo accelerates clinical trials through direct access to known, diverse patients from more than 115 hospitals and major health systems, 200 healthcare-based sites, and 100 research-based sites, leveraging EHR data and utilizing our proprietary IntElligo® technology. Our PatientSelect® model engages our network of networks to optimize the intersection of healthcare and research and bring more patients clinical research as a care option. Elligo’s SiteSelect model and Research Partner Services enable sites to seamlessly participate in trials, further advancing the development of new pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device and diagnostic products.