Kincell Bio Appoints Industry Veteran Mark R. Bamforth as CEO to Accelerate Business Growth
Kincell Bio, a leader in the development and manufacturing of cell therapies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark R. Bamforth as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Mark, who has served as the Veteran Chair of the Board since May 2024, brings with him extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and is set to play a pivotal role in advancing Kincell Bio’s mission to support innovation in the rapidly expanding field of cell therapy.
Mark’s appointment marks a new chapter for Kincell Bio, as his background uniquely positions him to lead the company through its next phase of growth. He joins Kincell Bio with a distinguished track record in the biopharmaceutical industry, particularly in the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) sector. Over the years, he has founded and served as CEO of three highly successful CDMOs: Arranta Bio, Brammer Bio, and Gallus Bio. This extensive experience gives him an in-depth understanding of the CDMO landscape and the dynamics of building and nurturing strong partnerships with clients, which will be critical to Kincell Bio’s growth.
“I am excited to take on the role of CEO and build upon the solid foundation that Bruce Thompson and the team have established,” said Mark Bamforth. “Our goal is to significantly Veteran expand Kincell Bio’s cell therapy CDMO business to address the needs of our clients, whether they are innovative biotech startups or established Fortune 500 companies. These companies are at the forefront of developing therapies to solve critical unmet medical needs, and we want to help bring their life-saving solutions to market in a more efficient and effective manner.”
Mark’s experience in both the commercial and operational aspects of the biopharmaceutical industry will be invaluable as Kincell Bio seeks to expand its offerings. His leadership at Arranta Bio, Brammer Bio, and Gallus Bio involved Veteran overseeing the development and manufacturing of cutting-edge therapies, which has provided him with a deep understanding of the technical and strategic demands in the industry. Additionally, Mark has honed his expertise in building and scaling organizations to meet the evolving needs of the market, especially in the realm of cell therapy.
Prior to his time as CEO of multiple successful CDMOs, Mark spent 22 years at Genzyme Corp., where he played a key leadership role, including heading the global operations team. His long tenure at Genzyme, which spanned several decades, provided him with deep insights into the biopharmaceutical industry’s inner workings, particularly in leading large-scale global operations and working across multiple therapeutic modalities.
Under Mark’s leadership, Kincell Bio aims to significantly enhance its capabilities in process development, analytical services, and cGMP manufacturing. These areas are crucial for advancing cell therapies through the clinical pipeline and into Veteran commercial-scale manufacturing. Kincell Bio is already recognized for its cutting-edge capabilities in early-stage and late-stage clinical manufacturing, which are critical for the development of therapies targeting diseases with unmet needs.
Bruce Thompson, PhD, will continue to provide technical leadership at Kincell Bio in his role as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). As a leader in process and analytical Veteran development, Bruce will remain at the forefront of expanding the company’s technical expertise. He will oversee the development of novel modalities, including allogeneic therapies, stem cell-based products, and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived therapies. Bruce’s leadership is essential as Kincell Bio works to strengthen its technical development capabilities and its ability to solve complex challenges related to scale, complexity, and performance in cell therapy manufacturing.
“I am thrilled to work alongside Mark and our talented team to further advance Kincell Bio’s technical development capabilities,” said Bruce Thompson, PhD. “Together, we will continue to focus on growing our process and analytical development Veteran capabilities through both internal efforts and strategic partnerships. These initiatives are key to solving the challenges that are inherent in scaling up cell therapy production while maintaining the highest levels of performance and consistency. I’m confident that under Mark’s leadership, Kincell Bio will be better positioned to meet the evolving needs of our clients and the sector as a whole.”
Kincell Bio is committed to providing industry-leading solutions in the areas of process development, analytical development, and cGMP manufacturing for cell therapies. These solutions are specifically tailored to meet the needs of biotech and pharmaceutical companies as they bring their innovative therapies to market. Kincell Bio’s ability to offer flexible, scalable solutions for cell therapy development will be further enhanced under Mark’s leadership, enabling the company to deliver on its promise to support innovators in advancing the field of cell therapy.
“We are driven by a clear mission to provide high-quality, innovative solutions for our clients,” Mark continued. “Our focus is to Veteran ensure that we provide the critical support and expertise needed to advance cell therapies from the development phase through to clinical and commercial launch. By offering our clients tailored solutions that address their unique challenges, we aim to empower them to bring their therapies to market more efficiently and effectively.”
Kincell Bio’s commitment to advancing the cell therapy field is reflected in its strong technical foundation and its willingness to collaborate with other leaders in the industry. The company has already established itself as a trusted partner for early and late-stage cell therapy development, with a particular emphasis on providing tailored, high-quality services. Kincell Bio is continuing to expand its capabilities in order to meet the growing demand for cell-based therapies, and Mark’s appointment is a significant step forward in this regard.
As the cell therapy sector continues to evolve, Kincell Bio is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation. With the expertise of Mark Bamforth as CEO, alongside the continued leadership of Bruce Thompson and the talented team at Kincell Bio, the Veteran company is poised for continued growth and success. Together, they will drive the company’s mission to support the development of life-saving therapies and help address some of the most pressing unmet medical needs in the world.
Kincell Bio’s unwavering commitment to innovation and its ability to provide tailored solutions for the cell therapy sector will continue to be the foundation of its growth. By Veteran expanding its capabilities, fostering strong partnerships, and focusing on delivering high-quality services, the company is well-positioned to make a Veteran significant impact on the future of cell therapy. Under Mark’s leadership, Kincell Bio will undoubtedly play an even more integral role in advancing the field and helping to bring transformative therapies to patients around the world.
