Title: CEO
Employer: Savillex (Savillex, ONFAB, Optimum Processing, Inc)
Previous Role: Chief Commercial Officer for Fortis Life Sciences
Eric Giesing is a life sciences executive with a career spanning academia, biotech, pharmaceuticals, and private equity-backed ventures. Eric graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Integrative Biology in 2008 followed by a M.S. in 2010 under Dr. Alison Bell, where he studied the effects of maternal predator exposure on offspring behavior in three-spined sticklebacks.
Eric began his professional journey as a wildlife biologist and educator at Fort Hays State University and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Transitioning into the pharmaceutical industry, he held sales roles with inVentiv Health and Forest Laboratories, before joining Danaher, a Fortune 150 where he rose from entry level sales to managing a $500M business at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.
His career continued with a Harvard Business School certificate, operational leadership as COO of a drug manufacturing company and work as an operating partner for life science focused private equity firms. He later served as Chief Commercial Officer at Fortis Life Sciences, leading strategy and global commercial execution. Currently, Eric serves as Chief Executive Officer of Savillex, a conglomerate of three private equity-backed life science companies, holds several board positions, and most proudly, boasts the title of “Girl Dad.”
If you are interested in the intersection of business and science, pharmaceuticals, or how to achieve an executive or leadership position Eric is a great person to talk with. Contact Christina Swanson at alumnimentor@sib.illinois.edu if you would like to connect with Eric.