David Simmons

Chairman of the Board, Launch Tx

David joined Caliber Collision (Hellman & Friedman is majority owner) in 2023 as Chief Executive Officer. While being in a different industry than life sciences, the business has similar structural underpinnings to PPD. Caliber employs more than 32,000 teammates.

David joined PPD in 2012 as chairman and CEO. He led the company’s global workforce of more than 30,000 employees, across 46 countries, in the design and execution of drug development programs on behalf of pharmaceutical industry customers. PPD became a public company through an IPO process in 2020 and was acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2022. Under his leadership, PPD’s total enterprise value more than tripled, the number of employees more than doubled and the company received numerous accolades.

David came to PPD following 15 years with Pfizer Inc. most recently as President of the Emerging Markets and Established Products Business Units.

David serves on the board of directors for Launch Therapeutics, Cordis and Medline. He also is a trustee of the Linsly School in Wheeling, WV and Chairman of the Simmons Family Foundation.

David earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics and Industrial Management from Carnegie Mellon University.