Leadership

We have assembled a highly qualified management team with broad and deep oncology and biotech experience to execute on our mission to develop novel precision oncology therapies based on synthetic lethality. 

Management

Steve Forte

President, CEO & CFO

Steve Forte serves as our President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and as a member of our board of directors since April 2025. He was appointed to this role after previously serving as Executive Vice President and CFO since October 2019. Prior to joining us, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Clementia Pharmaceuticals Inc. from August 2018 through June 2019, during which time Clementia was acquired by Ipsen S.A. From September 2015 to August 2018, Mr. Forte served as Chief Financial Officer of Thinking Capital Financial Corporation, a Canadian financial technology firm, where he ultimately led the firm through a sale to Purpose Investments.

From September 2014 to September 2015, he served as Executive Director of Finance of CST Canada Co. From 2005 to 2014, Mr. Forte held positions of increasing responsibility at Aptalis Pharma Inc., including most recently holding the position of Vice President, Financial Reporting where he was responsible for the overall corporate controllership function of the company.

Mr. Forte received a Bachelor of Commerce in accountancy from Concordia University and is a Certified Professional Accountant in the Province of Québec and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (non-practicing) with ISACA.

Philip Herman

EVP, Chief Commercial and Portfolio Development Officer

Phillip Herman has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial and Portfolio Development Officer since January 2022. Mr. Herman brings extensive commercial experience with a focus in oncology and rare diseases and has a proven track record of product launches across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas.

Mr. Herman most recently served as the Chief Commercial Officer of Y-mAbs Therapeutics where he led the successful launch and commercialization of DANYELZA® (naxitamab). He served in this role from June 2018 to December 2021. Prior to Y-mAbs, Mr. Herman held various commercial and marketing positions including VP, Head of Santhera U.S. and Head of Commercial, Head of Marketing at Dyax, Director of Marketing at Vanda Pharmaceuticals, and various positions of increasing responsibility at Pfizer Inc.

Mr. Herman received a B.A. in business administration from Baldwin Wallace University, and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Michael Zinda, Ph.D.

EVP, Chief Scientific Officer

Michael Zinda, Ph.D. has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer since May 2019 and previously served as Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development of our U.S. subsidiary, Repare Therapeutics USA Inc., from June 2017 to May 2019. Prior to joining us, he spent 16 years at AstraZeneca from 2001 to May 2017, where he obtained the position of Executive Director, Head of Cancer Bioscience.

In this role, Dr. Zinda served on the global science leadership team, oncology research board and the Acerta research and early development teams accountable for strategy, key collaborations/partnerships and delivery of an innovative portfolio of patient-centric drug discovery programs.

Dr. Zinda received a B.Sc. in biology from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Vanderbilt University. He received his post-doctoral training at Princeton University and Eli Lilly & Company.

Daniel Bélanger

EVP, HUMAN RESOURCES

Daniel Bélanger has served as our Executive Vice President, Human Resources since May 2023. Mr. Bélanger brings 25 years of global Human Resources experience within the life science industry.

Mr. Bélanger most recently served as the Chief Human Resources Officer of Adare Pharma Solutions since 2015. Previously, Mr. Bélanger held various progressive and global leadership roles in Human Resources for 17 years at Aptalis Pharma, formerly known as Axcan Pharma.

Mr. Bélanger received a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Montreal and is a member of the Ordre des Conseillers en Ressources Humaines Agréés du Québec.

Joseph O’Connell, M.D.

Executive Vice President, Clinical Development & Medical Affairs

Joseph O’Connell MD joined Repare in 2021 in Medical Affairs and Safety/Pharmcovigilance and presently serves as Interim Executive Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs.

Previously, Joe served as Chief Medical Officer at Odonate Therapeutics from 2017-2021 where he led late stage global trials for the development of tesetaxel, an oral taxane. From 2015 to 2107 he was Vice President and Global Therapeutic Head, Medical Affairs at iVentive Health where he led the hematology-oncology clinical team supporting pharma clients in the design, conduct, submission and life-cycle planning across all cancer and hematology indications and a broad range of drug classes. From 2007 to 2015 Joe was a Senior Director at Pfizer, with leadership of clinical strategy and implementation for several development of oncology assets including Phase 1-3 oversight and cross functional planning with regulatory, commercial lines.

Prior to 2007, Joe was engaged as physician/partner in clinical practice of adult medical oncology and held a position in the Thoracic Oncology Section at Yale New Haven Hospital. He completed his Medical Oncology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where his experience included studies in solid tumor and the development of effective anti-emetics to support delivery of chemotherapy in the outpatient setting.

Founders

Daniel Durocher, Ph.D.

Daniel Durocher, Ph.D., is a Senior Investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute where he acts as Director of the Biomedical Program. He is also a Full Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Durocher’s overarching interest lies in understanding how cells maintain genome integrity, with an emphasis on the detection, signaling and repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Dr. Durocher is widely recognized for his use of functional genomics approaches to study the DNA damage response, and those efforts established ubiquitin as a key organizing molecule in DNA damage repair. Among the awards received by Dr. Durocher in recent years, particularly notable is the 2015 Paul Marks Prize for cancer research awarded by Memorial Sloan Kettering. In 2010, he was also named one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40, a prize that highlights exceptional contributions to Canadian society by individuals under 40 years of age in the arts, science and business spheres. Dr. Durocher received a B.Sc. from Université de Montréal, a Ph.D. from McGill University and he did his postdoctoral training at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Agnel Sfeir, Ph.D.

Agnel Sfeir, Ph.D., is the Paine Webber Chair in Cancer Genetics at Sloan Kettering Institute and a full member of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). She is also a Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on how mammalian cells maintain genome stability. Her lab made important contributions to our understanding of DNA double-strand break repair, telomere maintenance, and mitochondrial DNA replication and repair. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the NIH director’s new innovator award, Pew-Stewart scholarship for cancer research, Damon Runyon-Rachleff innovator award, Mathers foundation, V-Foundation scholar grant, Pershing Square-Sohn cancer research alliance prize, and an innovator award from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Dr. Agnel Sfeir received a B.S and M.Sc. in biology from the American University of Beirut and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She received her post-doctoral training at the Rockefeller University in the lab of Professor Titia de Lange. Prior to joining MSKCC in 2021, Dr. Sfeir was the Skirball Associate Professor of Genetics in the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine at NYU School of Medicine.

Frank Sicheri, Ph.D.

Frank Sicheri, Ph.D., is a Senior Investigator at the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor in the Departments of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the structural biology of eukaryotic signaling with specific interests in the protein kinase superfamily and the ubiquitin proteolytic system. His lab made important contributions to understanding normal signaling mechanisms, mechanisms of dysregulation that contribute to disease, and mechanisms of drug action and resistance. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honours including election as a Royal Society of Canada Fellow, the Merck Frosst Prize, Canada Research Chair in Signal Transduction, and Terry Fox Young Investigator Scholar. Dr. Frank Sicheri received a B.Sc. and Ph.D. in biochemistry from McMaster University. He received his post-doctoral training at Rockefeller University under the mentorship of Dr. John Kuriyan.
Board of Directors

Thomas Civik

Thomas Civik has served as chair of our board of directors since September 2021. Mr. Civik most recently served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Five Prime Therapeutics from April 2020 until its acquisition by Amgen Inc. in April 2021. He previously served as Chief Commercial Officer at Foundation Medicine, Inc. from November 2017 until September 2019. From December 2000 to November 2017, Mr. Civik held various roles of increasing responsibility over a 17-year career at Genentech, Inc., including responsibility for therapies such as Avastin, Tecentriq, Alecensa and Tarceva. In addition, Mr. Civik currently serves on the board of directors of Pyxis Oncology, Inc. Mr. Civik received a B.A. in political science from Saint Norbert College and an M.B.A. in business strategy and marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Our board of directors believes that Mr. Civik’s extensive experience as an executive and director in the life sciences industry qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.

David Bonita, M.D.

David Bonita, M.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since September 2019. Dr. Bonita is a member at OrbiMed Advisors LLC, an investment firm. He currently serves on the boards of directors of Acutus Medical Inc., Ikena Oncology, Inc., Prelude Therapeutics Inc. and Third Harmonic Bio, Inc., as well as several private companies. Dr. Bonita also previously served on the boards of directors of Clementia Pharmaceuticals Inc., IMARA Inc., SI-BONE, Inc., and Tricida, Inc. Prior to OrbiMed, Dr. Bonita worked as a corporate finance analyst in the healthcare investment banking groups of Morgan Stanley and UBS. He received his B.A. in biology from Harvard University and his joint M.D./M.B.A. from Columbia University. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Bonita’s extensive investment experience in the healthcare industry and his experience on the boards of directors of several public and private companies qualify him to serve on our board of directors.

Sam Kulkarni, Ph.D.

Samarth Kulkarni, Ph.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2019. Dr. Kulkarni currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CRISPR Therapeutics AG, a position he has held since 2017, and as a member of its board of directors since 2017. Dr. Kulkarni initially joined CRISPR in August 2015 as Chief Business Officer, and then served as CRISPR’s President and Chief Business Officer from May 2017 to November 2017. Prior to joining CRISPR, Dr. Kulkarni was a partner within the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology practice at McKinsey & Company, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility after joining in 2006. He also serves on the boards of directors of Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. and Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc. Dr. Kulkarni received a Ph.D. in bioengineering and nanotechnology from the University of Washington and a B. Tech. from the Indian Institute of Technology. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Kulkarni’s extensive management and industry experience qualify him to serve on our board of directors.

Steven H. Stein, M.D.

Steven H. Stein, M.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since June 2024. Dr. Stein currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Incyte Corporation, a position he has held since March 2015. At Incyte, he leads all medical and scientific activities involving clinical development, clinical operations, pharmacovigilance, clinical pharmacology, scientific communications and medical affairs. Prior to joining Incyte, from May 2011 to February 2015, Dr. Stein served as the Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Novartis Oncology. Prior to then, he was employed by GlaxoSmithKline from February 2004 to April 2011, serving first as its Head of Medicines Development for Hematology and Supportive Care and then as its Vice President, Global Oncology, Clinical Development. Dr. Stein also previously served on the board of directors of Kura Oncology, Inc. from 2017 until May 2023. Dr. Stein earned his MBBCH from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has authored more than 100 scientific papers and presentations and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Stein is also an active member of several professional and scientific societies and academic committees. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Stein’s medical background and extensive clinical development and operational experience qualify him to serve on our board of directors.

Susan M. Molineaux, Ph.D.

Susan M. Molineaux, Ph.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since June 2023. Dr. Molineaux currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Para Therapeutics Inc., a position she has held since April 2023. From March 2010 to March 2023, Dr. Molineaux served as the co-founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the board of directors of Calithera Biosciences, Inc. Prior to Calithera, Dr. Molineaux co-founded Proteolix, Inc., where she served as Chief Scientific Officer from 2003 to 2005, Chief Executive Officer from January 2006 to January 2009 and again as Chief Scientific Officer from February 2009 until Proteolix’s acquisition by Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in November 2009. From 2000 to 2003, Dr. Molineaux served as Vice President of Biology at Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1999 to 2000, she served as Vice President of Biology at Praelux, Inc., and from 1994 through 1999, she served as Vice President of Drug Development at Praecis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1989 until 1994, she was a scientist in the Immunology group at Merck & Co. Dr. Molineaux currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of Geron Corporation and she previously served on the board of directors of Theravance Biopharma, Inc. from May 2015 to April 2022 and Cyteir Therapeutics, Inc. from December 2020 to May 2023. She is also a Scientific Advisor for Lightstone Ventures. Dr. Molineaux received a B.S. in Biology from Smith College and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University. Our board of directors believes that Dr. Molineaux’s extensive management experience, particularly in the biotechnology space and deep expertise in drug development and research, in addition to her experience as a member of the boards of directors of multiple publicly traded biotech and pharmaceutical companies, qualify her to serve on our board of directors.

Ann D. Rhoads

Ann Rhoads has served as a member of our board of directors since June 2020. Ms. Rhoads most recently served as Chief Financial Officer of Forty Seven, Inc., a position she held from March 2018 until its acquisition by Gilead Sciences Inc. in 2020. Previously, from 2010 to January 2017, Ms. Rhoads was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Zogenix, Inc. From 1998 through 2009, Ms. Rhoads was at Premier, Inc., serving as Vice President, Strategic Initiatives from 1998 to 2000 before serving as Chief Financial Officer from 2000 through 2009. Ms. Rhoads currently serves on the boards of directors of Globus Medical Inc., QuidelOrtho Corporation (formerly Quidel Corporation) and iTeos Therapeutics Inc. and she previously served on the boards of directors of Evoke Pharma, Inc., Iridex Corporation and Novellus Systems, Inc. Ms. Rhoads received a B.S. in Finance from the University of Arkansas and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Our board of directors believes that Ms. Rhoads’ extensive experience as a chief financial officer of multiple publicly traded biotech and pharmaceutical companies, in addition to her experience as a member of the boards of directors of multiple publicly traded biotech and pharmaceutical companies, qualify her to serve on our board of directors.

Carol A. Schafer

Carol A. Schafer has served as a member of our board of directors since March 2019. Ms. Schafer has more than 25 years of experience in investment banking, equity capital markets, corporate finance and business development in the biopharmaceutical sector. From April 2007 to September 2018, she worked at Wells Fargo Securities, most recently serving as Vice Chair, Equity Capital Markets. From December 2003 to February 2007, Ms. Schafer served as Vice President of Finance and Business Development at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, Ms. Schafer worked at J.P. Morgan, where she held positions of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as a Managing Director in Equity Capital Markets. Ms. Schafer currently serves on the boards of directors of Immunome, Inc., Insmed Incorporated and Kura Oncology, Inc. She served on the boards of directors of Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. from May 2019 until it was acquired by Amgen in April 2021, and of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from December 2018 to September 2022. Ms. Schafer received a B.A. from Boston College and an M.B.A. from New York University. Our board of directors believes that Ms. Schafer’s extensive financial background and experience providing investment banking, equity capital markets and strategic support to companies within the healthcare sector qualify her to serve on our board of directors.

Steve Forte

Steve Forte serves as our President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and as a member of our board of directors since April 2025. He was appointed to this role after previously serving as Executive Vice President and CFO since October 2019. Prior to joining us, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Clementia Pharmaceuticals Inc. from August 2018 through June 2019, during which time Clementia was acquired by Ipsen S.A. From September 2015 to August 2018, Mr. Forte served as Chief Financial Officer of Thinking Capital Financial Corporation, a Canadian financial technology firm, where he ultimately led the firm through a sale to Purpose Investments. From September 2014 to September 2015, he served as Executive Director of Finance of CST Canada Co. From 2005 to 2014, Mr. Forte held positions of increasing responsibility at Aptalis Pharma Inc., including most recently holding the position of Vice President, Financial Reporting where he was responsible for the overall corporate controllership function of the company. Mr. Forte received a Bachelor of Commerce in accountancy from Concordia University and is a Certified Professional Accountant in the Province of Québec and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (non-practicing) with ISACA.

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