Board of Directors

Paula Brown Stafford, MPH, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Novan. Ms. Stafford also serves as Chairman of the Novan Board of Directors. Prior to joining Novan in March 2017, Ms. Stafford was President of Clinical Development at Quintiles (now IQVIA). In this role, Ms. Stafford was responsible for global clinical development services. While at Quintiles, Ms. Stafford was a member of the Executive Committee, the Technology Investment Committee, and a Board Observer. In addition to her role at Novan, Ms. Stafford is an adjunct professor in Public Health Leadership at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ms. Stafford holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Health, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a specialization in Biostatistics.

W. Kent Geer is a retired audit partner with Ernst & Young, LLP. His 37-year career working with public and private companies includes an extensive track record in a variety of industries including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and other technology companies. During his tenure, Mr. Geer was the audit practice leader for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Services Group in Raleigh, North Carolina and was the market team leader for the technology industry practice of the Carolinas. Beginning in 2012, Mr. Geer served as the Chairman of the Board of PowerSecure International, Inc. until the successful sale of the company in May 2016.

Robert Keegan is the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, roles that he held until his retirement in 2010. Most recently, he was an operating partner of the San Francisco-based private equity firm Friedman, Fleischer & Lowe. From 1972 to 2000, Mr. Keegan held various marketing, financial and managerial posts at Eastman Kodak, except for a two-year period from when he worked as an Executive Vice President of the Avery Dennison Corporation. Mr. Keegan is Chairman of the Board of Loparex, Inc., serves on the boards of the Fuqua Business School and the Heart Center of Duke University, and is a partner at L&K Properties of North Carolina, LLC.

Machelle Sanders is a seasoned executive with over 29 years of progressive pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience. Ms. Sanders is secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce, appointed by Governor Roy Cooper. In the private sector, Ms. Sanders was most recently responsible for the pharmaceutical operations and technology operational strategy for Biogen’s multiple sclerosis franchise (i.e. AVONEX™, PLEGRIDY™, TECFIDERA™, and TYSABRI™). She held the title of vice president of manufacturing and general manager of the company’s largest and most advanced manufacturing facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Ms. Sanders has also held leadership positions in manufacturing, global quality assurance and quality control at Biogen, Purdue Pharmaceuticals, and Diosynth-Akzo Nobel. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from North Carolina State University and a Master of Health Administration from Pfeiffer University.

Since January 2010, Steve Skolsky has served as the founding Principal of Expis Partners, a strategic consulting firm to the biotech, pharmaceutical, life science and clinical services community, with a focused expertise in commercialization, marketing strategy, drug development, operations, strategic planning and corporate and business development. From September 2011 to December 2016, Mr. Skolsky held senior executive roles at Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc. (now IQVIA), a leading multinational provider of biopharmaceutical development services and commercial outsourcing service, most recently as Senior Vice President & Managing Director and previously, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Clinical Operations. Prior to joining Quintiles, from August 2007 to December 2009, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sequoia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and from June 2004 to December 2006, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Trimeris, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Skolsky served for more than 20 years at GlaxoSmithKline plc where he held a number of positions including senior leadership roles as Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline’s operations in Australia and New Zealand and Senior Vice President, Global Product Strategy and Clinical Development.