Leadership

Laurence Rodriguez

Chief Executive Officer

Laurence Rodriguez has over 30 years’ experience in the life sciences industry, including 13 years in the rare diseases business at Sanofi. She helped drive the establishment, growth and success of Genzyme in France as a leader in rare diseases, which was capped by the acquisition of the company by Sanofi in 2011. After the acquisition, Laurence held a range of operational and strategic roles, serving in the Executive Committee. As Head of the Rare Diseases & Rare Blood Disorders unit at Sanofi, she oversaw the successful launch of various rare disease products developed or acquired by the Company.

She joined GenSight Biologics in May 2021 as Country Manager and Head of Operations for France and Benelux. She coordinated the early access program in preparation for LUMEVOQ®’s commercialization and created strong relationships based on mutual trust with key stakeholders in the French market. 

She was appointed as CEO by GenSight Biologics’ Board in December 2023 to lead the company’s revitalized strategy. In 2025, she was elected to the Biotech College of the Board of Directors of France Biotech, the trade association of biotechnology firms in France, and in 2026 to the Board of Directors of LEEM, the industry group of pharmaceutical companies operating in France.

Laurence holds a master’s in management and health policy from Sciences Po Paris and a B.Sc. from Paris University. She also completed an Organization Leadership Program at the Harvard Business School.

Jan Eryk Umiastowski

Chief Financial Officer

Jan Eryk Umiastowski brings nearly three decades of expertise in corporate finance, fundraising, financial management and M&A to the position of Chief Financial Officer, which he assumed in September 2024.

Prior to joining GenSight Biologics, Jan Eryk served as Chief Investment Officer and Head of Investor Relations at FCB/Cegedim for 16 years (2007–2024). In this role, he developed and implemented successful financial communication strategies, arranged €1.9 billion in financing through various instruments, led the M&A acquisition process and played a key leadership role in strategic initiatives, corporate governance and ethics.

He co-founded Jet Finances (2002–2005), providing advisory services to European equity funds and developing financial communication programs, and served as Director of Mergers & Acquisitions at AMAS Bank in Geneva and Paris (2005–2007). Jan Eryk began his investment career as a Small Caps Equity Fund Manager at Financière Rembrandt (1998–2002) and as an Equity Fund Manager at BBL Asset Management (1996–1998).

Jan Eryk holds a postgraduate degree (DESS) in Applied Mathematics with a major in Finance from Université Paris VI (Pierre et Marie Curie, now Sorbonne Université), which he received with honors in 1995. He is fluent in French, Polish and English.

Magali Taiel, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Magali Taiel joined GenSight Biologics as Chief Medical Officer in September 2018. Magali is a board-certified ophthalmologist with more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, spanning Clinical Development, Clinical Operations and Medical Affairs, in addition to 13 years of academic and private clinical practice. She completed her medical doctorate and ophthalmology training in Lariboisière–Saint-Louis University, Paris, France, earned her Associate Professor qualification and developed extensive experience in surgical and medical ophthalmology. In the pharmaceutical industry, Magali held senior international medical leadership roles at Servier International R&D, Pfizer and Eli Lilly, developing deep expertise in global Clinical Development, Translational Medicine and Medical Affairs across a range of therapeutic areas. She then joined ProQR Therapeutics, where she led the development of antisense oligonucleotides for rare inherited retinal diseases, including Leber Congenital Amaurosis and Usher syndrome. 

At GenSight Biologics, Magali has led gene therapy clinical programs from Phase 1 through Phase 3 in inherited retinal and neuro-ophthalmic diseases, directing strategy, protocol design, medical oversight, governance and regulatory interactions. She has authored numerous clinical protocols and peer-reviewed publications and is recognized for her expertise in advanced modalities including AAV gene therapy, optogenetics and antisense oligonucleotides for rare ophthalmic diseases. Drawing on extensive experience across both academic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry, she turns scientific insight into therapies that advance patient outcomes.

Scott Jeffers, Ph.D.

Chief Technical Officer

Dr. Scott Jeffers joined GenSight Biologics as Chief Technical Officer in April 2022. Based in Boston, U.S.A., Scott leads our wide-ranging and intensive collaboration with our manufacturing and analytics partners.

Scott has extensive experience in senior executive chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) development and operations roles in various biopharmaceutical and contract manufacturing companies such as Redpin Therapeutics, uniQure, Selecta Biosciences and Brammer Bio. He has more than 20 years of experience in viral gene therapy, virology, biochemistry and molecular biology and is a recognized expert in the development and manufacture of gene therapy vectors for preclinical, clinical and commercial-stage gene therapy drug products.

Scott completed two post-doctoral fellowships at the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the University of Colorado. He earned his Ph.D. in Virology at Purdue University and his B.S. in Biology at Colorado State University.

Fang Li, PH.D. RAC

Chief Regulatory & Quality Officer

Dr. Fang Li, who joined GenSight Biologics in February 2026, brings more than 30 years of experience in drug development, including over 25 years in Regulatory Affairs, with extensive expertise in global product development and approvals across the U.S. and other regions. 

Fang held senior regulatory leadership roles across various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Opthea Ltd, Oculis SA, Graybug Vision and Iveric Bio, as well as regulatory positions at organizations such as Novartis, Alcon, Bausch + Lomb and Warner Chilcott. Her experience in regulatory strategy spans the areas of small molecules, biologics, gene therapies and medical devices.

Fang holds a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from China Pharmaceutical University, a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from Wuhan University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Organic Chemistry from Xiamen University. She is also RAC (U.S.) certified.

Sabrina Chekroun, Pharm.D.

Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance

Sabrina Chekroun joined GenSight Biologics in February 2026, bringing more than 23 years of experience in international Regulatory Affairs. She was previously at leading pharmaceutical companies such as Sanofi-Genzyme and AstraZeneca as well as biotechnology companies such as Abivax and Advicenne, where she held senior leadership positions in Global Regulatory Affairs. 

Sabrina has extensive experience in defining and leading global regulatory strategies across Europe, the U.S. and other regions, from early development through post-marketing authorization, with a strong focus on orphan drugs and rare diseases.

Sabrina received a Pharm.D. from the University of Algiers, a master’s degree in Industrial Pharmacy from the University of Tours, and a master’s degree in Health Law and Management from Paris XI University.

Julio Benedicto

Senior Vice President, Strategy and Operations

Julio Benedicto was the first member of the commercial team, having joined GenSight Biologics in 2017 as Vice President of Strategic Marketing. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations, overseeing activities related to communication, business intelligence, marketing and market access and acting as overall program manager for GS010/LUMEVOQ®.

Julio has over 30 years’ experience in the life sciences industry, having worked as a strategy consultant at Monitor/Deloitte, Booz & Company and IMS/IQVIA prior to joining GenSight Biologics. His consulting engagements, undertaken with a range of biotech and pharma clients and across major geographies, encompassed launch excellence; growth and corporate strategy; organizational structure and design; branding and marketing excellence; and portfolio optimization.

Julio holds B.A., M.A. and M.Phil. degrees in economics from Yale University.