BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vida Ventures (“Vida”), a next-generation life sciences venture firm, announced today that Jean-Philippe (“JP”) Kouakou-Zebouah has joined in the dual role of Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer. JP joins Vida from Versant Ventures where he was Senior Vice President of Finance. With the recent close of the Vida Ventures II, LLC (“Vida II”) fund, which raised $600 million and increased assets under management to approximately $1 billion, JP will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s operations and financial management including portfolio performance analysis and implementation of strategic financial systems to maximize value from investments.
“We are thrilled to have JP join the growing Vida team where we know he will make an immediate and positive impact,” said Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director. “Vida has more than tripled its assets under management in less than two years. JP’s unique blend of experience and ability to help Vida achieve new levels of operational excellence will be critical as we keep pace with the speed of life science investment opportunities.”
JP brings with him over two decades of experience in venture capital, life sciences, strategy consulting and public accounting across Europe, Africa and the United States. At Versant, JP was responsible for all funds management activities and collaborated with Managing Directors on strategic financial matters, including fundraising, portfolio reviews, investment analysis and forecasts. He previously served as Senior Director and Head of Finance for the U.S. Bio-Oncology Business Unit at Genentech where he oversaw 13 brands, 32 indications and more than $12B in annual sales. JP earned an MBA from Harvard Business School with a concentration in Finance and Business Strategy. He also earned a master’s degree in financial engineering from Ecole Superieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales in Paris (ESSEC-Paris) and an accounting degree from Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers in Paris.
“I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join Vida,” said Kouakou-Zebouah. “The combination of assets, breadth of team knowledge, and unified drive to support innovative science establishes an incomparable platform for building growth and creating value for partners.”
About Vida Ventures
Vida Ventures is a next-generation life sciences investment firm founded by a group of scientists, physicians, entrepreneurs and investors passionate about building and funding breakthroughs in biomedicine. Together they form an independent, bold investment group bound together by a simple word – life. Its mission is to bring science to life and advance transformative biomedical innovations that have the potential to make a meaningful difference for patients. Vida has a bicoastal presence and currently has approximately $1 billion under management. For more information on Vida Ventures, please visit www.vidaventures.com, on LinkedIn or follow on Twitter @Vida_Ventures.
