From the top down, all of us at Norwich are committed to our customers’ success. We believe that continuous training results in higher quality, and a quality product drives customer success. This is why our staff dedicates at least 10% of their time to training.
Below are brief profiles of the key personnel at Norwich who strive every day to help advance the standards of our industry.
Douglas L. Drysdale
Chief Executive Officer
Doug Drysdale has been the driving force behind over 100 pharmaceutical and biotech transactions. For almost 20 years, he has been applying his leadership skills and strategic vision to building and growing complex, multi-region businesses. Prior to coming to Norwich, Mr. Drysdale served as Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions for Actavis Group hf. He also served in a vice presidential capacity for the multinational Alpharma, Inc., where he was in charge of their department of Global Business Development. At Forest Laboratories, Mr. Drysdale was responsible for their Global Licensing initiatives. His entrepreneurial character was firmly formed early on, as co-founder of Alkensa, Inc., a CNS development company. Here Mr. Drysdale served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development. An ardent student of the biological sciences as well as the pharmaceutical industry throughout his life, Mr. Drysdale earned his degree in Microbial and Molecular Biology from the University of East Anglia, UK.
Christopher R. Calhoun
President
Mr. Calhoun joined Norwich Pharmaceuticals in July, 2001 as Vice President, Quality and Regulatory Affairs. He was then named President in 2005. Prior to joining Norwich, he was the Associate Director of Global Quality Assurance–Operations for P&G Pharmaceuticals, located in Mason, Ohio. In this role, Mr. Calhoun had Quality responsibility for systems and personnel at sites in Norwich, NY, Canada, Puerto Rico, France, and Germany. Mr. Calhoun spent 18 years in a variety of technical and managerial roles in Product Supply, Product Development, and QA organizations. A 1984 graduate of Clarkson University, Mr. Calhoun holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He is an expert in the design and instruction of Marching Band/Drum & Bugle Corps, teaching various groups in central New York and is the President of the Board of Directors of Opportunities for Chenango. Mr. Calhoun also sits on the Board of Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich.
Carolyn A. Gherardi
Vice President, Technical & Development Services
Mrs. Gherardi joined Norwich Pharmaceuticals in July, 2001. She was then named Vice President, Operations from 2005 to 2008. Prior to joining Norwich, she was the HR Director for the P&G Pharmaceutical operation located in Norwich, New York. Mrs. Gherardi held numerous assignments over a ten-year period, all within the Norwich site. These assignments covered all phases of the pharmaceutical manufacturing operation and included bulk chemical manufacturing, bottle/liquid/blister packaging, and facilities and utilities management. A 1991 graduate of Clarkson University, Mrs. Gherardi holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
John A. Salvagno
Vice President, Operations
Mr. Salvagno joined Norwich Pharmaceuticals in February, 2008. His 27 years of pharmaceutical experience cover all aspects of solid dose, liquid, powder, and sterile manufacturing, packaging and product launch operations and site compliance. Prior to joining Norwich, he was Director OTC Contract Quality Operations/North America and Puerto Rico, which included worldwide responsibility for conveyed products at Johnson and Johnson's McNeil Division. Mr. Salvagno also held positions as Director Quality Operations at Pfizer's Brooklyn Operation, and Director Quality Operations for Watson Pharmaceuticals. For several years he held Quality and Manufacturing positions at the Norwich Operation of Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Salvagno is a 1982 graduate of LeMoyne College with a B.S. Degree in Chemistry, and is a member of the American Chemical Society.
Gregory M. Torre, Ph.D., J.D.
Vice President,
Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assuance
Dr. Torre is responsible for managing assignments related to regulatory strategy, development strategy as well as for implementing development programs. He is a scientist-attorney with nearly 30 years of hands-on executive leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Prior to his currentrole, Dr. Torre was the Senior Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, Quality and Technical Operations at NPS Pharmaceuticals. During his career, Dr. Torre has held senior executive positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Sankyo and Novartis.
Dr. Torre received his BS in Pharmacy from St. John's University, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions and is a registered Pharmacist in the State of New York. He was also awarded an MS in Pharmacology/Toxicology and a PhD in Pharmacology/Toxicology from the same institution. In 1988 Dr. Torre received his JD from Brooklyn Law School and he is a member of the Bar in the State of New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and the United States Supreme Court.
Dr. Torre is currently an Adjunct Professor at Long Island University, Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions where he teaches courses in Food and Drug Law and Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement.