Directors
Len Mertz, BBA, MPA
Mr. Mertz has been a director since Alpha Cognition's founding and was named Chairman in 2021. He is also the Chairman of Shannon West Texas Memorial Hospital, a CMS rated 5-star hospital, with currently budgeted gross revenues exceeding $1 billion. He has over 35 years of experience as a co-founder, board member, or investor in various companies including Triumvira Immunologics and Akido Labs. In addition, he serves on the board of the First National Bank of Mertzon and is a co-founder of Mayne & Mertz, Inc. an oil & gas exploration company. He began his career as a certified public accountant and obtained his BBA in Finance with Highest Honors and his Masters in Professional Accounting both from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Mertz chairs the audit committee and serves on governance and nominating committee.
John Havens, BS
John Havens, BS
Since 1978, Mr. Havens has been the President of Seismic Exchange, Inc. Mr. Havens also has a long history as an entrepreneur as both a founder and significant investor in various industries, with a focus on growth through vertical integration and strategic acquisitions. He has served as Vice Chairman/Board Member of the Houston Astros and as an active member of numerous other business and community boards. Mr. Havens serves on the Audit committee and chairs the Governance and Nominating committee.
Phillip Mertz, AB
Phillip Mertz, AB
Mr. Mertz became a director in 2019. He is also the CEO of Subtle Technology, a neurotechnology company focused on non-invasive brain-machine interface solutions to neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive enhancement. In addition, he has over 15 years of investment experience, and is currently a partner in Mertz Holdings through which he invests in public and private companies. He is also a co-founder of Secure Open Solutions, a cybersecurity and compliance management company. Previously he led business development for CNG Energy and worked as a management consultant with Touchstone Consulting Group. He graduated from Harvard University in 2006 with an A.B. in Economics. Mr. Mertz chairs the Compensation committee.
Rajeev "Rob" Bakshi, BBA
Rajeev "Rob" Bakshi, BBA
Mr. Bakshi is currently the CEO of Active Witness Corp, which develops disruptive technology for Access Control to make buildings and facilities safe. He previously was the co-founder of the technology company, Silent Witness Enterprises Ltd., which was listed on the TSX and NASDAQ. He oversaw the company's growth strategy before being sold to Honeywell. In 2009, Mr. Bakshi established Apivio Systems Inc and from 2013-2017 he served as CEO. Apivio Systems Inc was acquired by Nuri Telecom Company in the spring of 2017. Mr Bakshi is an accomplished real estate and technology investor, and advises both private and public companies. Mr. Bakshi serves on Audit and Compensation committees.
Ken Cawkell, LLB
Ken Cawkell, LLB
Mr. Cawkell has been involved for over 25 years in the biotech industry as both a professional advisor, investor and as the founding principal of Alpha Cognition and its predecessor the Neurodyn Group. He is a member of the British Columbia Bar Association and in 1987, he co-founded the law firm Cawkell Brodie LLP. Mr. Cawkell has gained extensive strategic and development experience and has a history of value creation, as a result of his long-term association with numerous public and private companies. He has been involved in several successful exits and currently sits on the Board of TSE listed Well Health Technologies a leading integrated health care provider. He is a past member of the National Research Council of Canada IMB/INH Advisory Board and a number of biotech industry associations.
Michael McFadden, BBA
Michael McFadden, BBA
Mr. McFadden brings more than 30 years of successful leadership experience spanning pre-IND drug discovery through the commercialization and has launched over a dozen therapies in neurology, psychiatry, endocrinology and urology. He has over 16 years’ experience in Neuroscience. Previous leadership roles have included Chief Commercial Officer at MPower Health, Chief Commercial Officer at Urovant Sciences (Nasdaq: UROV), and SVP Sales and Marketing at Avanir Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AVNR). Prior to these roles, Mr. McFadden held leadership roles at Amylin Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AMLN) and Pharmacia. He serves on advisory boards at MPower Health and MindLab.
Robert Wills, PhD
Robert Wills, PhD
Dr Wills serves as Chairman of the Board of Milestone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIST),serves on as a board member at Parion Sciences, Inc., and a board member at Oncternal Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ONCT). Dr Wills previously served as the Chairman of the Board of CymaBay Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CBAY) prior to the acquisition by Gilead Sciences, Inc. in March 2024, and served as Executive Chairman of GTx, Inc. from 2015-2019. Prior to that he spent over 25 years at Johnson & Johnson. His roles included Vice President, Alliance Management, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and as Senior Vice President Global Development, where he was responsible for the R&D pipeline and a member of the R&D Board of Directors. Dr. Wills holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and a M.S. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Texas.