TIAP promotes Nathwani to leadership role

Parimal Nathwani (pictured) was unveiled yesterday as the incoming president and CEO of Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP), the commercialisation firm aligned with multiple Canadian institutions.
Nathwani will officially become lead on April 1, 2020. He will succeed Raphael Hofstein, a GUV Powerlist 2018 grandee and contributor to the GUV magazine, who has headed the organisation since its inception as Mars Innovation in 2009.
Hofstein said: “It has been an honour to lead TIAP and to work with our members. When we started in 2009, it was a big, bold experiment that has successfully yielded an innovative business approach to venture building that is admired globally.
“We have accomplished so much in the last ten years but there is still more work to do. I am excited to transfer the baton to Parimal. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to be the leader that TIAP needs into the future.”
Nathwani joined the commercialisation unit as vice-president in 2009, and his recent accomplishments include the launch of drug development incubator Lab150 with drug discovery firm Evotec in 2017.
His other duties have included building viable TIAP spinouts and networking with academic members as well as scientific, industry and venturing partners.
Nathwani took the vice-presidency after a two-year spell as research analyst at specialised dispute consulting firm Versant Partners from 2006 until 2008.
He was previously a technology transfer manager within University of British Columbia’s industry liaison office from 2004 until 2006, and a business development manager at genomic drug discovery company Active Pass Pharmaceuticals from 1999 until 2003.
Angus Grant, chairman of TIAP, said: “Parimal Nathwani’s acumen within the life sciences industry together with his collaborative approach will be an asset for the membership and enable growth for the organization.
“After an international search his appointment is a clear reflection of the board’s confidence in his ability to successfully lead TIAP through its next phase of accelerated growth.
“He will be a strong advocate for TIAP’s members and the vision that we all share of translating Canadian scientific innovations into improved health outcomes for patients.”
“We are indebted to Rafi Hofstein for his strong leadership which has put TIAP and Toronto on the global map for exciting scientific breakthroughs. On behalf of the board and personally, I would like to thank Rafi for his invaluable contribution to TIAP and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
– Image courtesy of TIAP