Tessera Therapeutics Announces Leadership Transition As President & CFO Howard Liang Steps Down After Five Years Of Driving Gene Writing™ Strategy

Tessera Therapeutics, the biotechnology company advancing a groundbreaking approach to genetic medicine known as Gene Writing™, has announced a planned transition within its executive leadership team. Howard Liang, who has served as President and Chief Financial Officer, has decided to step down at the end of the year to pursue the next phase of his career. He will continue in his role as President through year-end to support a smooth and well-structured transition.

Michael Severino, M.D., CEO of Tessera Therapeutics, expressed deep appreciation for Liang’s leadership and long-standing contributions. He noted that over the past five years, Liang has played an essential role in building Tessera’s strategic direction, advancing its Gene Writing platform, and reinforcing the company’s foundation for sustainable growth. Severino extended warm wishes to Liang as he embarks on his next professional chapter.

Alongside this leadership change, Tessera has announced the appointment of Kathy Bergsteinsson as its new Chief Financial Officer. Bergsteinsson brings more than 25 years of experience spanning management, corporate finance, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning. Before joining Tessera, she served as CFO of Affini-T Therapeutics and spent nearly two decades at Morgan Stanley, where she held the role of Managing Director and Head of Healthcare Equity Capital Markets. Throughout her career, she helped raise over $100 billion in equity financing for clients and advised on approximately $110 billion worth of strategic transactions. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Welcoming her to the company, Severino highlighted Bergsteinsson’s strong financial expertise and extensive sector knowledge, emphasizing that her leadership will support Tessera as it enters a critical phase of growth and development. Bergsteinsson expressed enthusiasm about joining Tessera at a transformative moment for the organization. She noted that the company has developed a promising Gene Writing and delivery platform with the potential to reshape genetic medicine and significantly benefit patients. She added that she looks forward to working closely with the leadership team to support Tessera’s long-term strategic vision and help advance its innovative programs.