“I find what Velsera is doing — to power precision oncology to marry the medicine to the patient — very inspiring,” Brake said. “Given my professional background working across discovery research, clinical development and medical affairs, I understand where the roadblocks to this vision might be. I look forward to helping to develop strategies to define where Velsera can bring value to these kinds of customers and the patients they serve.”
Ojo is a seasoned commercial business leader and marketing executive who has spent more than 25 years leading cross functional teams at large consumer brands and organizations, including Amazon Prime Video & Studios, MAC Cosmetics, Coty and Unilever. She is currently the founder and chief executive officer of Zaia Ventures, an incubator committed to building and scaling businesses that serve underrepresented and marginalized communities. Ojo received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
“I am a strong supporter of Velsera’s ambition to democratize precision medicine for all, and in particular their efforts to improve healthcare access and outcomes for black and brown communities all over the world,” Ojo said. “The real, actual impact that this company can have — not only on patients but also on all the other humans that love them and want them to have a better quality of life — is one that I am inspired to contribute to as a board member.”
Hans Cobben, chairman of Velsera’s board and a partner at Summa Equity, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Ukonwa and Rachael to the Velsera board of directors. Their experience and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow our business and expand our reach.”
Ojo and Brake join a board of directors led by Cobben that shaped Velsera before its launch in January 2023, as a merger of three industry leaders in bioinformatics, clinical interpretation and lab workflow automation.
