Russell L. Gantt leads the licensing, divestment and partnering activities for the North American Organization of AstraZeneca PLC with over $16 billion in worldwide annual revenues. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies focused on providing innovative and effective medicines. Mr. Gantt assists the commercial and scientific units and various global organizations to identify, assess and acquire products and technologies to support the growth strategies of the organization. He coordinates multifunctional teams including Medical Affairs, Finance, Legal, Drug Development and Therapeutics Area leadership to conduct thorough opportunity evaluations.

Mr. Gantt was part of the Astra Pharmaceuticals and Astra Merck teams before their merger with Zeneca Group PLC in 1998, serving as the Executive Director, Licensing and Business Development for the $3 billion plus U.S. prescription products division of Astra AB. There, he oversaw and managed divestment activities as well as contractual terminations.

Prior to AstraZeneca and its predecessors, Mr. Gann was the Assistant Vice President of Global Business Development at American Home Products Corporation and was the Senior Director of Business Development at Schering-Plough Corporation in the Healthcare Products Division, in addition to serving in management capacities in the company's Pharmaceutical Operations Division. He received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Tennessee (1974).