J. Donald deBethizy, Ph.D. President and CEO

Dr. deBethizy co-founded Targacept in 1997 and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors.  Prior to founding Targacept, he held positions of increasing responsibility at R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJRT), including Vice President of Product Evaluation, Research and Development where he was responsible for research, development, external affairs, and market introduction of reduced risk products.  Dr. deBethizy is active in the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), serving on its Board of Directors, as a member of both the governing boards of its Emerging Companies and Health Sections.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors of LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative vaccine products.  Dr. deBethizy received a Ph.D. and M.S. in Toxicology from Utah State University and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland, and he is a Diplomat of the American Board of Toxicology.