Karen S. Wright
About Karen S. Wright
Karen S. Wright serves as the Senior Vice President of Finance at Structure Therapeutics, bringing extensive experience in the biotech sector, including previous roles at Clene Nanomedicine and Veracyte. She specializes in financial management, strategic planning, and scaling biotech startups.
Current Role at Structure Therapeutics
Karen S. Wright serves as the Senior Vice President of Finance at Structure Therapeutics, a position she has held since 2020. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the financial operations and strategies of the organization. Her expertise in finance and strategic planning contributes to the company's growth and operational efficiency.
Previous Experience in Finance
Before joining Structure Therapeutics, Karen Wright held several key finance positions in various biotech companies. She worked as Head of Finance at Clene Nanomedicine, Inc. from 2014 to 2015, and as VP Finance and Corporate Controller at Veracyte, Inc. from 2011 to 2014. Additionally, she served as Sr. Director of Finance at Cytokinetics, Inc. and held multiple roles at VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Intermune, Inc., Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Genentech, Inc.
Education and Qualifications
Karen Wright earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Marketing from the University of California - Walter A. Haas School of Business. Her educational background provides a solid foundation for her extensive career in finance, particularly within the biotech sector.
Expertise in Financial Management
Karen Wright possesses extensive experience in scaling biotech startups from inception to post-IPO, with a focus on audit compliance. She specializes in strategic planning, financial system implementations, and managing financial due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. Her ability to forge cost-effective collaborations with third-party partners supports the achievement of strategic business goals.
Skills in Operational Efficiency
Karen Wright has a strong capability in identifying and rectifying potential operational or accounting pitfalls, which helps prevent costly delays. Her background includes managing financial operations that enhance business growth and support exit strategies, making her a valuable asset in the finance sector.