Cerus Appoints Vivek Jayaraman as President and Chief Executive Officer

Key Terms

pre-clinical medical

The pre-clinical stage is the early phase of drug or medical product development when researchers test candidates in the lab and in animals to check safety, how they work, and whether they are worth trying in people. For investors it signals high scientific uncertainty and a longer, costlier path to market — like testing a prototype in a workshop before any public road tests — so returns are riskier but can be large if results are positive.

transfusion medicine medical

Transfusion medicine is the medical specialty that handles collection, testing, processing, storage and safe delivery of blood and blood-derived products for patients, like how a quality-controlled supply chain moves food from farm to table. Investors care because this field supports steady demand for blood supplies, testing equipment and safety technologies, and is highly affected by regulatory approvals, infection screening advances and new therapies that can change market size and company revenue.

pathogen inactivation medical

Pathogen inactivation is a set of processes used to kill or neutralize viruses, bacteria and other infectious agents in biological materials such as blood products, plasma or cell therapies. Think of it like pasteurizing milk or disinfecting a surface: it reduces the risk that a product will transmit infection to a patient. For investors, this matters because effective pathogen inactivation can lower safety-related recalls and regulatory hurdles, support broader market access, and influence production costs and product pricing.

fda regulatory

The FDA is the U.S. federal agency that evaluates and approves medical drugs, devices, biological therapies and certain foods; think of it as the gatekeeper that decides whether a medical product is safe and effective for patients. For investors, FDA decisions determine whether a company can sell a product, affect expected revenue and introduce regulatory risk, so approvals, rejections or safety warnings can quickly move a company's valuation and stock price.

William “Obi” Greenman to become Executive Chairman

Leadership changes to take effect July 1, 2026

CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cerus Corporation (Nasdaq: CERS) today announced that Vivek Jayaraman, Cerus’ chief operating officer, will be promoted to president and chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2026. William “Obi” Greenman will become executive chairman of the board of directors. At the time of his appointment, Mr. Jayaraman will join the Board of Directors.

“Following a thorough succession planning process, this transition represents a natural step as we prepare for the next phase of growth at Cerus,” said Frank Witney, lead independent director on the Cerus Board of Directors. “The Board and I are deeply grateful to Obi for his tremendous contributions as CEO. Looking ahead, we are very confident that Vivek is the ideal leader for Cerus as the company enters its next chapter.”

Mr. Jayaraman joined Cerus in 2016, as Chief Commercial Officer and has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2020. During his tenure at Cerus, Mr. Jayaraman led the company’s growth from less than $40 million in annual product revenue to more than $200 million in 2025.

“I’m honored to lead Cerus, in partnership with our exceptional employees, during this exciting next chapter,” said Vivek Jayaraman. “We will broaden patient access to the INTERCEPT Blood System globally, expand our leadership in transfusion medicine, and improve patient outcomes. I am very grateful to Obi and the Cerus Board of Directors for entrusting me with this extraordinary opportunity to serve.”

Mr. Greenman joined Cerus in 1995 and has served as CEO for over 15 years. Under his leadership, Cerus transformed from a pre-clinical development company into a global commercial enterprise with product sales in over 40 countries.

“I am proud of the progress Cerus has made in advancing blood safety and availability,” said Obi Greenman. “Having worked with Vivek for nearly a decade, I am confident that he is the right person to lead Cerus towards the goal of making INTERCEPT the global standard of care.”

Added Greenman, “My goal has always been to establish Cerus as an enduring company. With four FDA product approvals in the past decade, a robust innovation pipeline, and a solid financial foundation, the company is well positioned to continue to lead the field of pathogen inactivation. As Executive Chair, I look forward to supporting Vivek as Cerus continues to deliver on its mission.”

About Vivek Jayaraman

Mr. Jayaraman was appointed as Cerus’ chief operating officer in March 2020. In this role, Mr. Jayaraman oversees commercial operations, supply chain, and customer service. Previously, Mr. Jayaraman served as chief commercial officer since August 2016. Prior to Cerus, Mr. Jayaraman led TriVascular’s commercial expansion as the company grew from a preclinical, venture-backed startup into a publicly traded, global medical device company. Prior to TriVascular, Mr. Jayaraman served in numerous executive roles at Medtronic in both the U.S. and Asia. Mr. Jayaraman received his M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and holds dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan.

About William “Obi” Greenman

Mr. Greenman was named president and chief executive officer in April 2011. He had served as Cerus’ chief business officer since April 2010. Previously, he was senior vice president, business development and marketing. From 2006 to 2008, he held the position of president, Cerus Europe, and prior to that, he served as vice president, business development. Prior to joining Cerus in 1995 as director of business development, he worked in various marketing and business development positions in Baxter’s Biotech Division from 1991 to 1995. Mr. Greenman previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of both Aduro Biotech and Chinook Therapeutics, as Audit and Compensation Committee Chairs, respectively, for a combined period of more than a decade. He received his B.A.S. in Economics and Biological Sciences from Stanford University.

ABOUT CERUS

Cerus Corporation is dedicated solely to safeguarding the world’s blood supply and aims to become the preeminent global blood products company. Headquartered in Concord, California, the company develops and supplies vital technologies and pathogen-protected blood components to blood centers, hospitals, and ultimately patients who rely on safe blood. The INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma is available globally and remains the only pathogen reduction system with both CE mark and FDA approval for these two blood components. In the U.S., the INTERCEPT Blood System for Cryoprecipitation is approved for the production of Pathogen Reduced Cryoprecipitated Fibrinogen Complex (commonly referred to as INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex), a therapeutic product for the treatment and control of bleeding, including massive hemorrhage, associated with fibrinogen deficiency. The INTERCEPT red blood cell system is under regulatory review in Europe, and in late-stage clinical development in the U.S. For more information about Cerus, visit www.cerus.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Cerus, INTERCEPT and the Cerus logo are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical statements contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Cerus’ products, prospects and expected results, including statements relating to: the anticipated leadership transition effective July 1, 2026; Cerus’ expectations regarding its next phase of growth; Vivek Jayaraman’s expected leadership of the Company; William “Obi” Greenman’s expected service as Executive Chairman of the Board; Cerus’ expectations regarding the future growth, market position and adoption of its products, including INTERCEPT; and other statements that are not historical fact. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including risks related to Cerus’ ability to execute successfully during the leadership transition; risks related to market acceptance and commercialization of Cerus’ products; risks related to Cerus’ ability to maintain and expand its commercial operations globally; risks related to product development and regulatory processes; risks related to Cerus’ ability to maintain an effective manufacturing and supply chain; risks associated with macroeconomic and market conditions; and other risks detailed in Cerus’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading “Risk Factors” in Cerus’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Cerus disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260316126576/en/

Tim Lee – Head of Investor Relations

Cerus Corporation

ir@cerus.com

925-288-6128

Source: Cerus Corporation