Leadership Shifts Across Tech and Biotech: New Appointments at Allen Institute, AWS, NuScale, and More

Immunology Moonshot Gains New Leadership

Award-winning immunologist Susan Kaech has been named executive vice president of the Allen Institute’s Immunology Moonshot, according to reports from the organization. The initiative aims to deepen understanding of the immune system’s role in human health and disease. Kaech currently leads the NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and will join the Allen Institute in January.

Immunology Moonshot Gains New Leadership
Technology Sector Executive Moves
Energy and Healthcare Leadership Updates
Emerging Technology and AI Appointments
Additional Industry Movements

The institute stated that “the appointment comes at a critical time in bioscience when the immune system is regarded as the cornerstone of all diseases” and that understanding its foundational principles is vital to developing new treatments. Kaech’s research portfolio includes investigations into immune memory, T-cell communications, and the role of metabolism in cancer immunity.

Technology Sector Executive Moves

Seattle RFID company Impinj has appointed Arthur Valdez Jr. to its board of directors, sources indicate. Valdez recently served as executive VP of global supply chain and customer solutions at Starbucks and brings experience from leadership roles at Amazon and Target. Impinj CEO Chris Diorio stated that Valdez’s expertise in transforming supply chain networks would be invaluable as the company advances its vision of connecting physical objects.

At Amazon Web Services, Jason Bennett has transitioned to vice president of worldwide startups and venture capital after serving as VP of U.S. enterprise. Bennett, who has been with AWS for over 17 years, expressed enthusiasm for returning to startup-focused work, noting on LinkedIn that supporting the startup ecosystem “has a lasting impact on the direction of industries and the future of AI.”, according to recent studies

Energy and Healthcare Leadership Updates

NuScale Power has appointed James Canafax as chief legal officer and corporate secretary, according to company reports. The Oregon-based nuclear energy company, which develops small modular reactors, cited Canafax’s extensive nuclear industry experience and regulatory knowledge as key qualifications. CEO John Hopkins stated that Canafax’s track record of guiding organizations through growth periods makes him uniquely suited to support NuScale at this important stage.

In healthcare technology, Seattle entrepreneur Elvis Dieguez has joined telehealth company hims & hers as VP of data science, analytics and platforms. Dieguez previously served as CEO and co-founder of e-commerce marketing platform symphonie and spent over four years at Amazon in business analytics roles. On LinkedIn, Dieguez noted he looks forward to leading a approximately 70-person team working to make healthcare more accessible.

Emerging Technology and AI Appointments

Biotech startup Synthesize Bio has named Ariel Brumbaugh as senior director of business development, where she will help partner with biopharma companies interested in using the company’s AI-based research platform. The Seattle company, founded by leaders from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, recently announced $10 million in funding from Madrona.

Sophie Brougham has been appointed director of philanthropic operations for the newly launched Clean Economy Project (CleanEcon), a policy and advocacy platform promoting clean power. Brougham previously spent over a decade at Vulcan (now Vale Group) as a senior manager leading philanthropic programs., according to market analysis

Jake Laes is now executive director of AI Tinkerers, a global network of AI engineers and builders. Laes joins from Deel, where he facilitated partnerships between investors and accelerator programs, and founded YoungTech Seattle.

Additional Industry Movements

Other significant appointments include Pranam Kolari’s upcoming resignation as VP of search and recommendations at Coupang, Pete Scobell joining Datavault AI as VP of global security, and Erin McHugh Saif leading a new data and AI venture focused on “place-based partnerships.” Additionally, Karen Ng was promoted to executive VP of product at HubSpot, bringing experience from Google, Microsoft, and Common Room.

Analysts suggest these executive movements reflect continued growth and reorganization across technology, biotechnology, and clean energy sectors, with particular emphasis on artificial intelligence applications and healthcare innovation.

References

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Vision Restoration Breakthrough

Researchers have reportedly restored partial vision to patients suffering from advanced macular degeneration using an innovative retinal implant technology, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Sources indicate that the prosthetic device could potentially help approximately one million people in the United States alone who struggle with geographic atrophy, the most severe form of age-related macular degeneration.