Benjamin Simkin
About Benjamin Simkin
Benjamin Simkin serves as the Head of Commercial Finance at Kite Pharma, where he manages financial planning and analysis for multiple subsidiaries. He has a background in finance and operations, with previous roles at Amgen, NantWorks, and NantHealth, and holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Business Administration.
Current Role at Kite Pharma
Benjamin Simkin serves as the Head of Commercial Finance at Kite Pharma, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he manages financial planning and analysis (FP&A) activities for over ten subsidiaries across various sectors, including biotech, genomic sequencing, and medical devices. His responsibilities include overseeing financial strategies and ensuring effective financial management within the organization.
Previous Experience in Finance and Operations
Prior to his current position, Benjamin Simkin held several significant roles in finance and operations. He worked at NantHealth as Vice President of Finance from 2018 to 2021, where he implemented the Hyperion financial system to improve financial planning and analysis. Before that, he served as Senior Manager Finance at Amgen from 2011 to 2017, focusing on drug costing and strategic manufacturing network analysis.
Internship Experience at 20th Century Fox and Amgen
Benjamin Simkin gained valuable experience during his internships at 20th Century Fox and Amgen. He worked as an MBA Intern in Digital Operations at 20th Century Fox for six months in 2010-2011. Additionally, he completed a two-month internship in Operations Strategic Planning at Amgen in 2010, where he contributed to operational strategies.
Educational Background in Engineering and Business
Benjamin Simkin holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he studied from 2002 to 2006. He furthered his education by earning a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, completing his studies from 2009 to 2011.
Leadership Role at NantWorks
From 2017 to 2018, Benjamin Simkin served as Director of Finance at NantWorks in Los Angeles, California. In this capacity, he developed a clinical trial budget through collaboration with Clinical Operations and R&D functions, supporting the organization’s financial planning and operational strategies.