Mr. Arthur Joseph Higgins, also known as Art, has been Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Depomed, Inc. since March 28, 2017. Mr. Higgins founded Ascendancy Healthcare, Inc. in 2011 and serves as its Executive Chairman. He serves as Senior Advisor at Blackstone Healthcare Partners, the dedicated healthcare team of The Blackstone Group, where he focuses on product-based healthcare acquisitions. Mr. Higgins is a highly respected executive with over 35 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. Mr. Higgins served as Senior Advisor at The Blackstone Group, L.P. He has extensive leadership experience in the global healthcare market. He has gained deep knowledge of the healthcare market and the strategies for developing and marketing products in this highly regulated area. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Bayer HealthCare AG from January 1, 2006 to April 30, 2010. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Management and Member of Management Board at Bayer HealthCare AG. He served as the Chairman and Member of Management Board of Bayer Pharma AG from September 14, 2006 to September 1, 2008 and its Chief Executive Officer until September 1, 2008. Prior to joining Bayer HealthCare in 2004, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Enzon, Inc. (Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc.) from May 31, 2001 to 2004. He also held various other positions at Abbott Laboratories, including President of Pharmaceutical Operations, Vice President of Pacific, Asia and Africa Operations and Vice President of International Business Development. He started his career in 1978 in Britain with Bristol-Myers. He subsequently worked for Sandoz from 1979 to 1984 and Fisons from 1984 to 1987 before moving to Abbott Laboratories in the USA from 1987 to 2001, where he held positions of increasing responsibility in the international and domestic divisions, including a two-year posting in Germany. He served as the President of the Pharmaceutical Products Division in Chicago at Abbott Laboratories from 1998 to 2001. In this position, he was in charge of Abbott's pharmaceuticals business in the U.S. with responsibility for global pharmaceutical research and development. He served as the Chairman of Bayer HealthCare AG. He served as the Chairman of Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc. from December 3, 2001 to September 29, 2004. He has been an Independent Director of Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. since February 12, 2007 and Eco lab Inc. since May 6, 2010. Mr. Higgins serves as a Director of NantPharma, LLC, NantWorks LLC and MPD Acquisition LLC. He served as a Director of Zenith Epigenetics Corp. until February 11, 2014. He has been an Independent Director of Ecolab Inc. since May 6, 2010. He served as an Independent Director of Endo International plc since February 28, 2014 until March 31, 2017. He served as a Director of Endo Health Solutions Inc. from December 2013 to February 2014. He served as Director at Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc. from May 31, 2001 to December 7, 2004. He served as a Director of Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. since August 1, 2010. He served as a Director at Resverlogix Corp. from February 1, 2010 to February 2014. He has been a Member of Schering since September 14, 2006. He was the Chairman of the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), of the Council of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and President of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). Mr. Higgins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland in 1978

 healthcare