Christopher K. McLeod
President and Chief Executive Officer
454 Life Sciences
Throughout his career, Christopher McLeod has demonstrated expertise in growing companies through strategic collaborations, innovative marketing, and new product development. McLeod has served as president and chief executive officer of 454 Life Sciences since February 2005, where annual sales of the company's DNA sequencing technology and products exceeded $37 million in 2006. Previously, he served as executive vice president of CuraGen from November 1999, where he oversaw bioinformatics, strategic business development, and collaborative research, including the negotiation of strategic partnerships with Abgenix, Bayer and TopoTarget A/S.
Prior to joining CuraGen, McLeod spent three years as chief executive officer of Havas Interactive (formerly Cendant Software), a leading international software developer whose annual revenues increased in excess of 60 percent to over $500 million during his tenure. Prior to heading Havas Interactive, he served as executive vice president and director at CUC International where he was president of the CompuCard division, marketing affinity membership programs with partners including Citibank, Sears, Bank One and Chase. CompuCard was recognized on the Inc 100 list of fastest growing public companies.
McLeod earned his B.S. Magna Cum Laud with a dual major in economics and engineering and applied science from Yale University and his M.S. in management from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He serves on the boards of Sacred Heart University, Fairfield College Preparatory School and the CT Yankee Council, Boy Scouts of America.