Cerus names Vivek Jayaraman CEO, Greenman to become chairman

Cerus Corporation has named Vivek Jayaraman as its next president and chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2026, as part of a planned leadership transition, the company said in a statement.

Jayaraman, currently chief operating officer, will also join the board upon assuming the role. Incumbent CEO William “Obi” Greenman will transition to executive chairman, marking a shift after more than 15 years at the helm.

The move follows what the board described as a structured succession process. “This transition represents a natural step as we prepare for the next phase of growth,” lead independent director Frank Witney said, adding that the board was confident Jayaraman was the right leader for the company’s next chapter.

Jayaraman joined Cerus in 2016 as chief commercial officer and became COO in 2020. During his tenure, annual product revenue grew from under $40 million to more than $200 million in 2025, reflecting the company’s commercial expansion in blood safety technologies.

“I’m honoured to lead Cerus during this next chapter,” Jayaraman said, outlining plans to expand global access to the company’s INTERCEPT Blood System and strengthen its position in transfusion medicine.

Greenman, who joined Cerus in 1995 and became CEO in 2011, oversaw the company’s transition from a development-stage business into a global commercial enterprise with product sales in over 40 countries. He said the company was now well-positioned with multiple regulatory approvals, a growing product pipeline and a stronger financial base.

Having worked closely with Jayaraman for nearly a decade, Greenman added that the incoming CEO was well placed to drive the company’s long-term strategy, particularly as demand for pathogen-reduction technologies grows globally.

Cerus, headquartered in California, develops blood safety systems used by hospitals and blood centres worldwide. Its INTERCEPT platform remains a key growth driver, with ongoing regulatory reviews and late-stage clinical development in additional product segments.

The leadership change comes as the company looks to scale its commercial footprint and deepen adoption of its technologies, positioning itself for the next phase of growth in a specialised but expanding healthcare segment.