Category: Mammalian Protein
Q: What made you say “yes” to Avid, and why now?
A: Avid is extremely well-situated for success right now. What stood out to me immediately was the combination of a strong track record of quality and delivery, a team that clearly knows how to execute, and a company with real growth ambitions, the desire to scale thoughtfully and take Avid to the next level.
The “why now” comes down to what’s happening in the broader environment. Today’s geopolitical landscape is creating real uncertainty for biopharma supply chains. Between evolving trade dynamics, potential tariffs, and policy developments like the BIOSECURE Act, many sponsors are rethinking global dependency and accelerating plans for onshoring. In that context, U.S.-based manufacturing isn’t just an option, it becomes the certainty and stability that programs need to future-proof their business.
Avid is in a strong position to provide that certainty: a reliable U.S. partner with a great track record of delivery that can help customers, ensure access to a critical market, especially as trade barriers and geopolitics evolve and supply chain resilience becomes a strategic priority.
Q: In your first 90 days, what will you focus on to create the biggest impact?
A: In the first 90 days, my focus is really on the fundamentals: making sure we’re set up to deliver and execute consistently for our customers. As Chief Business Officer, I care deeply about the bottom line, but not just as a financial concept. For a CDMO, the “bottom line” is our ability to perform: quality, timelines, responsiveness, and doing what we say we’ll do. If we continue to hit that mark, business success follows.
So my priority is being laser-focused on execution, understanding what’s working well, where we can remove friction, and how we can strengthen the systems and decision-making that support reliable delivery for every client program.
Q: Avid’s brand promise is to be the easiest CDMO to work with. What does that mean to you in practice?
A: To me, being the “easiest CDMO to work with” means we never treat clients like they’re lucky to have access to us. In this industry, there are a lot of big players who have a “take it or leave it” approach, and that can make it hard for sponsors, especially emerging biotech teams, to get the partnership experience they deserve.
Avid is different. We meet customers where they are, we invest the time to truly understand what they need and what their priorities are, and we stay focused on making their experience smooth and responsive. In practice that means agility, speed, clear communication, and a willingness to consider how we work to ensure clients feel supported, not boxed into a rigid process.
Q: What do you think pharma and biotech sponsors value most from a CDMO partner today and how will Avid win?
A: In this industry, delivery is king. Sponsors can have the best product in the world, but if they can’t manufacture reliably and on schedule, they can’t get product to patients. And that’s what this is all about.
Biotech teams already have an incredibly difficult job, they’re managing R&D, clinical timelines, fundraising, commercialization planning, and everything in between. A CDMO partner should reduce that burden, not add to it. If we can take manufacturing off their list of things to worry about, we’re creating real value.
That’s how Avid wins: by providing a consistently great client experience and delivering on our commitments, on time, with quality, and with transparency. There’s nothing more important than being the partner clients can count on.
Q: On a more personal note, what motivates you outside of work?
A: A big part of what motivates me outside of work is staying energized. I’m a big CrossFit person, and I’ve found that doing something really hard physically has a way of clearing your head. It helps me step back, refocus, and come back with more energy and perspective.
But really, the best time outside of work for me is simple: being with my wife and kids sitting around the table, playing board games and just being together. That’s the good stuff. It’s where I recharge and reset.
We’re thrilled to have Rich on the team and energized by the leadership, focus, and client-first mindset he brings to Avid.
Please join us in welcoming Rich as he helps drive our next chapter of growth.
Q: What drew you to Avid, and what excites you most about joining at this moment?
A: What drew me to Avid is the people. This is a team deeply committed to quality, safety, and doing what’s right for our partners and the patients they serve. You can feel that sense of purpose in every interaction. I’m excited to join at a moment when Avid is scaling its capabilities while staying true to its core values; maintaining the care, discipline and dedication that have earned its reputation for excellence.
My executive experience with Fujifilm, where I helped lead one of the industry’s fastest growth journeys, gave me critical insight into how to scale organizations effectively. That means building processes and systems while retaining a strong culture and high performance – all with a focus on people, clients, and patients.
Q: How do you define “transformation” in the context of Avid?
A: For me, transformation is about setting the organization up for what’s next – building the systems, tools, and habits that enable sustainable growth. At Avid, we’re operating from a strong foundation of Right First Time (RFT), and that gives us an incredible platform to build upon. We have an amazing opportunity to intentionally move toward even higher levels of performance through systematic digitization, right-sized automation, and embedding a culture of continuous, data-driven improvement. Transformation, in this sense, is about ensuring our people and our partners have what they need to thrive as Avid continues to scale.
Q: What will be your focus in the first few months?
A: My initial focus will be on learning and listening – understanding how we operate today and hearing directly from colleagues and customers about where they see opportunities. Those insights are essential to shaping the right priorities. From there it’s about aligning those observations across the team to create a sustainable transformation agenda – one that reflects our collective input and moves us toward thoughtful execution. The goal is to build momentum together, ensuring that the changes we make truly support the people and processes that define Avid’s success.
Q: How do you see technology supporting Avid’s mission and our clients?
A: Technology is most valuable when it helps create clarity and accelerate progress. The goal is to create value by improving visibility into project milestones, results, and outcomes. By doing so, we can reduce the time it takes to develop, scale up, manufacture, and release products. Ultimately, the right technology allows our teams to focus on what matters most – the science – the process development and the manufacturing of life-saving biologics for the patients who need them.
Q: On a more personal note, what inspires you outside of work?
A: The people in my life inspire me every day. My wife gives selflessly and is always looking for ways to make the world a better place. My three daughters inspire me through the way they balance pursuing meaningful contributions to society while living full, joyful lives. I’m also deeply inspired by my friends and my colleagues – people who have chosen careers centered on helping others. Working in an industry that exists to improve health and bring life-changing medicines to patients is a constant reminder of why this work matters so much.
Dave’s appointment reflects Avid’s continued investment in the people and systems that drive excellence for our clients. Please join us in welcoming him to the Avid team!
Welcome, Dave!
By Josh Abbott, Editor, BioProcess Insider
Bilenberg spoke to BPI about Avid’s role in biomanufacturing and the outlook for the biopharmaceutical industry.
Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Avid Bioservices recently announced the appointment of Kenneth Bilenberg as CEO, succeeding Nick Green, who stepped down due to health concerns. Bilenberg most recently served as COO for Fujifilm Biotechnologies and has also held senior leadership roles at Novo Nordisk during his 20 years of industry experience. BioProcess Insider spoke with Bilenberg about his career, the state of the industry, and the future of Avid.
Bilenberg said that the first time he had an opportunity to work with a CDMO, he refused. “In those days, I was not immensely happy with CDMOs.” He cited experiences partnering with companies that didn’t deliver on their promises, degrading his trust in the sector. Now, having felt the pains of bad CDMO relationships, he sees an opportunity to change those negative perceptions, both based on Avid’s history of success and through gaining experience working for biopharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk.
The future of biopharma
Bilenberg discussed the reshoring effort in the US and the drive to keep up with world leaders like China in areas such as capacity and development. He said that US biopharmaceutical firms aren’t too far behind their Asian counterparts, but that bridging the gap will require a concentration of effort. Fortunately, he sees recent US partnerships and ongoing reshoring efforts as paths toward accelerating innovation. And the more that happens, the more positive outcomes will snowball. “There’s a possibility of bridging the gap, but we have to get out of bed early and work hard to get going, because that’s how competition works.”
Bilenberg identified several ways that US companies build upon their momentum. Capacity, for example, is key. With new large molecule approvals gaining momentum when compared with small molecules, and with demand projected to continue growing, capacity shortages have become a point of concern in biomanufacturing. “More capacity needs to be placed even with all the investments right now,” Bilenberg said. He added that the industry should look to increase from an estimated 7 million liters of capacity to about 12–13 million liters within the next decade.
But other strategies can also help. Companies can invest in innovation by committing to continuous manufacturing and emerging AI technologies. Bilenberg said that AI has amazing potential in assisting with drug discovery. And in manufacturing, AI can perform functions such as reviewing documentation and identifying deviations. Over time, he predicts that AI will help improve purity and drive down manufacturing costs. Investigations that are time consuming and difficult for human operators stand to move much more quickly with AI assistance.
Although cell and gene therapies (CGTs) are outside the scope of Avid’s work, Bilenberg hopes such drugs can overcome their current funding difficulties for both the good of the industry and for patients who would benefit from their success. As it stands, CGT companies are facing an uphill climb in today’s funding environment with many such firms losing money while betting on the future. “When a cell therapy treatment that seems to be extremely effective is costing several hundred thousand dollars just to manufacture, it’s hard to get that to market,” he said.
And even when cell therapies do reach the market, patient access remains a challenge that stakeholders are working to address. Companies are moving toward bringing off-the-shelf allogeneic therapies to market, and although that could be a game changer for the future of CGT success, allogeneic treatments carry their own challenges.
In the meantime, Bilenberg is looking to the success of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and combination therapies that are currently undergoing tests. For example, stakeholders are exploring antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) cancer treatments that benefit from the specificity of mAbs for preventing off-target effects.
In assessing the future of the industry, Bilenberg also cited the proliferation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, which continue to see rapid improvements as developers such as Lilly (maker of bimagrumab) and Regeneron study solutions using mAb combinations that can preserve muscle mass during weight loss. Such innovations would benefit all GLP-1 users, but especially people who are elderly and experience weakness after undergoing such treatments.
With so many exciting developments happening in all corners of the industry, Bilenberg is excited to stake his claim alongside Avid in manufacturing exciting medicines for patients. “I really want to be a part of changing an industry,” he said. “I want to get to a point where we are trusted, because what we are doing is absolutely amazing.” Bilenberg said he was attracted to Avid because of its track record of delivery. “I saw Avid when I visited for the first time as a place with a good culture and some very experienced people.” He added, “I think Avid is a hidden gem, I would love to work with this organization to hit the market in a much stronger and more relevant way.”
As Bilenberg steps into the role of CEO, it’s clear his vision for Avid is rooted in purpose, keeping people and patients at the center of everything the company does. That means building relationships founded on trust, working with agility as the market evolves, and ensuring Avid is known globally for delivering with reliability and impact. It’s a vision that builds on the company’s strong reputation today, while setting the stage for greater reach and influence in the years ahead.
Avid Bioservices is beginning a new chapter with Kenneth Bilenberg as its new Chief Executive Officer. With a wealth of experience across the biopharma and CDMO industries, Bilenberg brings deep expertise and perspective to the role. In this conversation, he shares his thoughts on Avid’s strengths, what excites him about the road ahead, and how he views the opportunities shaping our industry.
Q: You bring significant experience in biopharma and biologics manufacturing and CDMO leadership. How has your background prepared you to lead Avid BioServices into its next chapter?
A: My front-line proximity to patients around the world – in the US, China, and Denmark during my time with Novo Nordisk has given me a strong sense of purpose. Delivering to a person in need is essential, and that commitment to patients, clients, and to each other has become a core value for me. For me, it’s about being decisive: Saying what we intend to do and doing what we say.
Working across different cultures has also shaped my leadership, teaching me to be a better version of myself, to appreciate our differences, and to see how much we can achieve when we come together around a shared purpose.
My executive experience with Fujifilm, where I helped lead one of the industry’s fastest growth journeys, gave me critical insight into how to scale organizations effectively. That means building processes and systems while retaining a strong culture and high performance – all with a focus on people, clients, and patients.
Q: What do you see as the most important capabilities a CDMO should provide to its biopharma partners today?
A: If you can call it a capability, I believe the most important thing a CDMO can provide is trust. Every CDMO has bioreactors, processes, and the ability to deliver batches or development work. But what truly matters is that our clients can trust us – because everything they ask us to do ultimately connects back to patients.
That’s what drew me to Avid. Here, trust means saying what we intend to do and delivering on that promise. It’s not about stainless steel or single use systems – it’s about partnership and a shared commitment to helping patients together.
Q: From your perspective, what are Avid’s greatest strengths today that you want to build on?
A: This really ties back to what I see as the most important capability a CDMO can provide: trust. Avid has built a strong reputation as a company that fulfills its commitments with a track record of delivering.
Having spent 15 years in pharma, I know how often companies worry about whether their CDMO partners will deliver the right results on time, and to the standards required. What I’ve seen at Avid is a culture of reliability – a team that clients can count on.
That’s a tremendous strength, and it’s also the foundation for growth. As we expand our capabilities and footprint, our goal is to build on that reputation so we can support both large pharma and small biotech alike most effectively in the years ahead.
Q: What trends in the biopharma and outsourcing industries are most important for CDMOs to pay attention to right now?
A: One of the biggest trends shaping our industry is a rapid growth in biologics. The market is expected to nearly double over the next several years, which brings with it new molecules, new modalities, and different scales of production. To succeed, CDMOs must be agile – able to move at the pace of their clients, with predictable delivery from DNA to IND through to commercial supply, and the ability to scale to meet demand.
We’re also seeing the rise of precision medicine, with modalities like ADCs gaining traction. At the same time, there are major opportunities in large indications such as Alzheimer’s, inflammatory and pulmonary diseases. The common thread is agility. CDMOs must be ready to adapt quickly to the evolving needs of both emerging biotech and large pharma as the marketplace continues to grow.
Q: Where do you see the biggest opportunities for Avid in the next few years?
A: In the near term, one of the greatest opportunities for Avid is the trend toward reshoring manufacturing to the US. This shift is driven by the need for quality, predictability, and confidence in supply.
Avid is exceptionally well-positioned to meet this demand. We have the people, the performance record, and the capacity to support companies of all sizes. Our culture of reliability and patient-focus directly aligns with what biopharma partners are seeking as they evaluate US-based manufacturing solutions.
As more manufacturing moves into the US, companies need CDMOs that can provide not only immediate capacity but also the ability to scale with them from development through commercial supply. I believe Avid is well positioned to become the partner of choice for this next wave of growth.
Q: What do you see as the most important qualities of a strong CDMO-client relationship?
A: At the core of any successful CDMO relationship is trust. Our partners need to know that when we commit to something, we’ll deliver reliably and predictably and to the highest standards. That trust is the foundation.
But, relationships built on trust are made even stronger by being genuinely collaborative. Being easy to work with means clear communication, flexibility when priorities shift, transparency when challenges arise, and a mindset of solving problems together. Too many CDMO relationships feel transactional. We want ours to be a true partnership.
We believe that means giving clients a key voice in how we operate. It’s their program we’re helping to bring to market and their involvement is welcomed and essential every step of the way. Delivering in this industry is complex and challenges are inevitable. But when transparency, trust, and client involvement are the foundation, it changes what’s possible.
Q: What message would you like to share with employees, clients, and partners as you step into the CEO role at Avid?
A: At the heart of everything we do are patients. With so many new therapies and modalities emerging, the impact of our work has never been greater. Every one of us knows someone who has been affected by cancer or another serious disease. There is a global community of patients who need us and that makes our mission deeply meaningful.
To our employees, my message is simple: Doing what we do is important, people all over the world relies on us for life impacting medicines, keep doing what you do so well and let’s embrace the future thinking bigger, allowing us to serve even more patients in the USA and globally.
To our clients, I want you to know that you have a partner who shares your sense of purpose and urgency. Patients are counting on all of us. Also, you have a partner that can re-shore to or start your programs in US as well as delivering your commercial demand.
As Bilenberg steps into the role of CEO, it’s clear his vision for Avid is rooted in purpose, keeping people and patients at the center of everything the company does. That means building relationships founded on trust, working with agility as the market evolves, and ensuring Avid is known globally for delivering with reliability and impact. It’s a vision that builds on the company’s strong reputation today, while setting the stage for greater reach and influence in the years ahead.
Welcome Kenneth!
We’re thrilled to have Rich on the team and energized by the leadership, focus, and client-first mindset he brings to Avid....
Dave’s appointment reflects Avid’s continued investment in the people and systems that drive excellence for our clients. Please join us...