Jazz Pharmaceuticals Appoints Thomas Riga As Chief Business Officer To Drive Corporate Development

Jazz Pharmaceuticals has announced the appointment of Thomas Riga as its new Chief Business Officer, effective January 1, 2026. In this role, Riga will oversee the execution of corporate development initiatives and lead strategic partnerships to support the company’s long-term growth strategy.

Riga joined Jazz in April 2025 following the company’s acquisition of Chimerix Inc., where he previously served as Chief Operating and Commercial Officer. At Chimerix, he played a central role in shaping corporate strategy and successfully steering the company through its acquisition by Jazz. He also led alliance management and navigated a complex regulatory landscape that resulted in U.S. approval and launch of the first therapy for H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer affecting around 2,000 children and young adults in the U.S. each year.

"Tom is an exceptional leader with more than 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry and a proven record of driving strategic transactions," said Renee Gala, president and chief executive officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "He combines a passion for patients with deep commercial, operational, and corporate development expertise, having led over $2 billion in business development deals in the past five years. Tom played a pivotal role in the approval and launch of Modeyso™ (dordaviprone), the first treatment for an ultra-rare, aggressive brain tumor affecting primarily children and young adults. His commitment to patients who previously had no options is truly inspiring. I look forward to working with Tom in this new capacity to strengthen our corporate development capabilities and continue bringing innovative medicines to Jazz's portfolio that transform lives."

With over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Riga has led sales, marketing, business development, and operations functions, holding multiple C-suite positions across various organizations. His broad leadership background is expected to strengthen Jazz’s corporate development efforts and external collaborations.

"I am honored to take on this new role of chief business officer at Jazz," said Mr. Riga. "I've been impressed by the strength and vision of Jazz's leadership team and look forward to advancing the company through innovative strategic transactions that leverage the existing expertise and capabilities of the company. Together, we will continue to build on our proven corporate development engine to deliver shareholder value and, most importantly, make a meaningful impact for patients with unmet medical need."

Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company focused on developing transformative medicines for patients with serious diseases, many of which have limited treatment options. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, the company has a diverse portfolio spanning sleep disorders, epilepsy, oncology, and neuroscience, supported by a robust research and development pipeline and a global operational footprint.