Certara Appoints Jon Resnick as Chief Executive Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Certara (Nasdaq: CERT) appointed Jon Resnick as Chief Executive Officer and board member effective January 1, 2026, succeeding William F. Feehery, who will step down as CEO on December 31, 2025 and serve as an external advisor during the transition. Resnick brings over 20 years of life‑sciences leadership at IQVIA, including service as President of the U.S. and Canada region since 2019.

The board thanked Feehery for guiding Certara through its IPO and software investments. The company also reaffirmed its full‑year 2025 financial outlook as previously disclosed on November 6, 2025.

Positive

• CEO appointment effective January 1, 2026
• William Feehery to step down as CEO on December 31, 2025 and advise
• Resnick brings 20+ years of IQVIA leadership experience
• Company reaffirmed 2025 full‑year outlook on December 11, 2025

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

CEO transition date December 31, 2025 William Feehery steps down as CEO on this date

New CEO start date January 1, 2026 Effective date for Jon Resnick as Chief Executive Officer

Leadership experience Over 20 years Jon Resnick’s experience with IQVIA cited in release

Financial outlook year 2025 Company reaffirmed its full year 2025 financial outlook

Market Reality Check

$8.58 Last Close

Volume Volume 1,571,152 vs 20-day average 2,056,263 (0.76x), suggesting no unusual trading pressure before the news. normal

Technical Shares at $9.28, trading below the $11.17 200-day MA and 40.85% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

CERT was up 1.2% with mixed peer moves: OMCL +1.1%, PHR +0.57%, TDOC +0.2%, GDRX +3.72%, while TXG fell 0.9%, pointing to stock-specific factors rather than a broad sector move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Nov 06	Q3 2025 earnings	Positive	-2.6%	Stronger Q3 results and raised 2025 guidance but shares fell modestly.
Nov 04	Product launch	Positive	-1.3%	Phoenix Cloud TFL Studio launch to speed regulatory TFL creation.
Oct 31	Investor conferences	Neutral	+2.4%	Announcement of participation in three November investor conferences.
Oct 30	AI platform launch	Positive	+2.4%	Launch of AI-powered Certara IQ QSP platform for biosimulation.
Oct 20	Scientific recognition	Positive	+2.8%	Highlighting top-cited scientists and broad regulatory use of Simcyp.

Pattern Detected

Recent product and AI launches, plus scientific recognition, generally saw positive price alignment, while the latest earnings and a workflow automation launch drew mild negative reactions, hinting at occasional sell-the-news behavior on fundamental updates.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Certara reported Q3 2025 results with $104.6M revenue and raised 2025 guidance, yet shares fell modestly after that and a Phoenix Cloud automation launch. By contrast, the AI-driven Certara IQ QSP platform and recognition of its scientists, including >200 papers and support for over 120 FDA‑approved drugs, were followed by positive moves. Participation in multiple November 2025 healthcare conferences also coincided with gains. Today’s CEO appointment and reaffirmed 2025 outlook arrive against this backdrop of steady fundamental and product momentum.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved -5.1% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite the reaffirmed 2025 outlook and orderly CEO transition would fit prior episodes where solid fundamental news drew muted or negative responses. Historically, AI and scientific achievements aligned with gains, while earnings and workflow updates sometimes saw selling. In such a scenario, investors would likely weigh transition risk, existing debt, and execution under new leadership. The absence of an indicated shelf here would keep focus on internal performance rather than new equity capital.

Key Terms

ipo financial

"guiding Certara through its successful IPO, leading Certara’s investment"

An initial public offering (IPO) is the process by which a private company sells its shares to the public for the first time, making its ownership available on the stock market. This allows the company to raise money from a wide range of investors to fund growth or other goals. For investors, an IPO offers a chance to buy into a company early in its public journey, potentially benefiting if the company grows in value.

biosimulation medical

"reinforcing its position as a global biosimulation leader. We are pleased"

Biosimulation is the use of computer models to mimic how drugs, cells, or whole biological systems behave, predicting outcomes like effectiveness, side effects, or disease progression. Think of it as a flight or weather simulator for biology that lets researchers test ideas virtually before real-world trials. Investors care because accurate biosimulation can cut development time and cost, lower the risk of failed trials, and improve the odds that a program will reach the market.

ai technical

"Certara's suite of AI, data and simulation technologies, backed by a team"

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables machines to mimic human thinking and learning, allowing them to analyze information, recognize patterns, and make decisions. For investors, AI matters because it can improve how businesses operate, create new products, or identify opportunities faster and more accurately than humans alone, potentially impacting company success and market trends.

medicare regulatory

"developed legislation around Medicare, Medicaid and broader healthcare reform."

Medicare is a large government-run health insurance program that primarily covers people aged 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities. For investors it matters because Medicare acts like a huge customer and rule-maker for hospitals, drugmakers and medical-device companies—its coverage decisions, payment rates and regulatory policies can change demand, revenue and profit margins across the healthcare sector, similar to how a major client or regulator can shape a business’s prospects.

medicaid regulatory

"developed legislation around Medicare, Medicaid and broader healthcare reform."

Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance program that provides medical coverage to low-income individuals, families, elderly people and people with disabilities, administered jointly by the federal government and state governments in the United States. For investors, Medicaid matters because changes in eligibility, funding, or payment rules can alter patient volume and the prices hospitals, nursing homes, insurers and medical suppliers receive—similar to how a large customer or contract can shift a company’s revenue outlook.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Resnick brings decades of leadership experience in health sciences, business operations, strategy, innovation and commercial growth

William Feehery to step down as CEO on December 31, 2025

Company reaffirms full year 2025 financial outlook

RADNOR, Pa., Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Certara, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERT), a global leader in model-informed drug development, announced today that it has appointed Jon Resnick as its next Chief Executive Officer and member of Certara’s Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026, succeeding William F. Feehery, who will at that point serve as an external advisor during a transition period.

Resnick brings over 20 years of experience with IQVIA, a global technology-enabled, data and analytics and services business that helps life sciences organizations develop and commercialize therapies. Since 2019, he has served as the President of the United States and Canada regional business, with overall management responsibility for the region’s commercial business. Prior to this role and immediately following the merger of IMS Health and Quintiles, Resnick served as President of IQVIA’s Real World Solutions business. Before the merger, Resnick was the Vice President and General Manager for IMS Health’s Real-World Solutions business and had various positions in IQVIA’s US and EMEA consulting and services organization.

“We are excited to welcome Jon to Certara,” said James E. Cashman III, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “He brings a proven track record of building and scaling market leaders, advancing technological innovation in healthcare and life sciences and fostering collaborative teams. We are confident that his leadership will help propel Certara to its next phase of growth and realize the full potential of model-informed drug development in accelerating medicines to patients.”

"I am thrilled to join Certara, a market-leading strategically important company at the forefront of innovation in drug discovery and development," said Resnick. “Certara's suite of AI, data and simulation technologies, backed by a team of world-class experts, is uniquely positioned to drive long-term growth, while helping clients reduce risk, accelerate timelines and transform how medicines reach patients. I look forward to leading this talented team and helping our clients reach their goals.”   

Prior to joining IQVIA in 2002, Resnick worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, where he advised on healthcare policy and developed legislation around Medicare, Medicaid and broader healthcare reform. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a degree in Political Science from Union College.

Cashman added, “The Board would like to thank Bill for his many contributions, including guiding Certara through its successful IPO, leading Certara’s investment in software development and reinforcing its position as a global biosimulation leader. We are pleased that Bill will serve as an advisor to Certara to ensure a smooth transition.”

“I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished at Certara,” said Feehery. “Together, we accelerated the adoption of biosimulation and helped our clients advance medicines with greater speed and confidence. As Certara enters its next chapter, this is the right moment for a leadership transition. I remain fully committed to supporting a smooth transition and am confident that Certara’s future is exceptionally bright.”

As part of this announcement, the Company is reaffirming its 2025 full year financial outlook as previously disclosed on November 6, 2025.

About Certara  
Certara accelerates medicines using proprietary biosimulation software, technology and services to transform traditional drug discovery and development. Its clients include more than 2,400 biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies across 70 countries. Visit us at www.certara.com.  
 
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s financial guidance, management and director succession plans and future business and financial performance and outlook. These statements typically contain words such as “believe,” “may,” “potential,” “will,” “plan,” “could,” “estimate,” “expects” and “anticipates” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Any statement in this press release that is not a statement of historical fact is a forward-looking statement and involves significant risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot provide any assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events and actual results, events, or circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and are subject to a variety of assumptions, uncertainties, risks and factors that are beyond our control, including any deceleration in, or resistance to, the acceptance of model-informed biopharmaceutical discovery and development; our ability to compete within our market; changes or delays in government regulation relating to the biopharmaceutical industry; trends in research and development (“R&D”) spending; the use of third parties by biopharmaceutical companies and a shift toward more R&D occurring at smaller biotechnology companies; consolidation within the biopharmaceutical industry; our ability to successfully increase our customer base, expand our relationships and the products and services we provide, and enter new markets; our ability to retain key personnel or recruit additional qualified personnel; risks related to the mischaracterization of our independent contractors; any delays or defects in our release of new or enhanced software or other biosimulation tools; issues relating to the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in our products and services; failure of our existing customers to renew their software licenses or any delays or terminations of contracts or reductions in scope of work by our existing customers; risks related to our contracts with government customers, including the ability of third parties to challenge our receipt of such contracts; our ability to sustain historic growth rates; any future acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate such acquisitions; the accuracy of our addressable market estimates; and the other factors detailed under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in our Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, and reports, including the Form 10-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2025, and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws, we expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any of them to reflect actual results, any changes in expectations or any change in events. 

Certara Contact:   
Sheila Rocchio   
sheila.rocchio@certara.com    
  
Media Contact:   
certara@edelmansmithfield.com

FAQ

When does Jon Resnick become CEO of Certara (CERT)?

Jon Resnick becomes CEO and joins the board effective January 1, 2026.

Who will step down as CEO of Certara (CERT) and when?

William F. Feehery will step down as CEO on December 31, 2025 and will serve as an external advisor during transition.

What experience does Certara CEO Jon Resnick bring from IQVIA?

Resnick has over 20 years at IQVIA, most recently as President of the U.S. and Canada region since 2019.

Did Certara (CERT) change its 2025 financial guidance after the CEO announcement?

No; Certara reaffirmed its full‑year 2025 financial outlook as previously disclosed on November 6, 2025.

Will William Feehery remain involved with Certara after stepping down?

Yes; Feehery will serve as an external advisor to support a smooth leadership transition.

How might the leadership change affect Certara's strategy for model‑informed drug development?

Company commentary highlights Resnick's experience in scaling healthcare technology and intends to advance Certara's AI, data and simulation capabilities.