Certara Taps IQVIA Veteran Jon Resnick as New CEO
Move aims to steer biosimulation firm's next growth phase as company reaffirms its 2025 financial guidance, signaling stability.
Certara (CERT), a specialist in biosimulation software for drug development, announced Tuesday it has appointed Jon Resnick, a former executive at life sciences giant IQVIA, as its new Chief Executive Officer, a move aimed at accelerating the company's commercial growth.
The leadership change was met with a modest but positive reaction on Wall Street. Shares of Certara climbed approximately 1.2% to $9.28 in afternoon trading, bringing the company's market capitalization to roughly $1.46 billion. The appointment comes as the company simultaneously reaffirmed its full-year 2025 financial outlook, signaling operational stability during the transition.
Resnick, who most recently served as President of U.S. and Canada for IQVIA, will take the helm on January 1, 2026. The outgoing CEO, Dr. William F. Feehery, will step down on December 31, 2025, after leading the company through its initial public offering in 2020 and expanding its technology portfolio.
The move is being interpreted as a strategic pivot towards strengthening Certara's market position and driving growth. Resnick's extensive experience in leading commercial operations at a major industry player like IQVIA is seen as a critical asset for Certara as it seeks to broaden the adoption of its biosimulation tools, which are designed to predict how drugs behave in patients to streamline the lengthy and expensive R&D process.
Alongside the leadership announcement, Certara provided investors with a steady financial picture. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, narrowing its revenue forecast slightly to a range of $415 million to $420 million, which represents 8% to 9% annual growth. It also maintained its outlook for an adjusted EBITDA margin of around 32%, according to company statements.
While the reaffirmed guidance offers a degree of certainty, the new leadership will need to address some emerging headwinds. Recent reports have pointed to a slowdown in the company's Tier 1 services segment, which could present a challenge. The transition period will be closely watched by investors looking for signs that Resnick can leverage his commercial background to navigate these issues and accelerate top-line growth.
Wall Street remains cautiously optimistic about the company's prospects. The consensus rating among analysts is a "Moderate Buy," with an average price target of $13.21, suggesting a potential upside of over 40% from its current trading levels. This indicates that while near-term challenges exist, analysts believe the company's long-term strategy and market position in the growing biosimulation field remain strong.
Certara's technology plays a crucial role in modern drug discovery, helping pharmaceutical and biotech firms reduce costs and make more informed decisions. By simulating trials and predicting drug efficacy and safety, the platform aims to de-risk development pipelines. The appointment of a commercially focused leader like Resnick signals a commitment to not only advancing this technology but also ensuring it translates into robust and sustained financial performance.