Birmingham, Alabama, 04 May, 2016 – Kirchner Group, a leading North American traditional merchant bank, today announced that Brett P. Giroir, MD has joined the firm. Brett brings deep health and life science experience that includes numerous roles with new biotechnology ventures, global corporations, academic institutions and federal agencies.

The health and life science sector is an area of significant activity for Kirchner Group including its work as an advisor to the lead investor for two of the largest ever Series A biotech financings: Juno Therapeutics and Denali Therapeutics. Brett’s background complements Kirchner Group’s interdisciplinary approach and further strengthens the firm’s ability to create significant value for institutions, companies and investors.

“I am excited to join Kirchner Group and to be part of their unique culture that is based on an unwavering commitment to earning and returning – which is very important to me,” commented Brett. “The breadth and depth of services Kirchner Group offers is remarkable, and I look forward to working closely with our clients and partners.”

Prior to joining Kirchner Group, Brett was Chief Executive Officer of the Texas A&M Health Science Center, and Vice Chancellor for Research for their entire University System. During his time at Texas A&M he was also the founder and principal investigator of a novel ~$3 billion federal public-private partnership designed to enhance the nation’s biosecurity preparedness.

Brett’s background also includes serving as a Director of the Defense Science Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Chief Medical Officer at Children’s Health, Dallas, where he practiced pediatric critical care medicine. Brett has received numerous awards including the U.S. Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service and the Texas A&M University System Award for Innovation.

Brett currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of the Cancer Moonshots Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the University of Michigan, and the Institute for Patient Safety at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

“We are always proud to add someone of Brett’s caliber to our team as we continue to expand our roster of professionals to meet the multifaceted demand for our services,” added W.B. (Bud) Kirchner, Founder and CEO of Kirchner Group. “Brett’s character and professional experience will be a tremendous asset to our robust health and life science team and our growing enterprise development program.”

Kirchner Group

Kirchner Group was founded in 1985 on two fundamental premises: all businesses should contribute to a positive human future and that every business, and portfolio of businesses, can be made more valuable. Today, the firm is a values-based corporate ecosystem, committed to the integration of “earning and returning”.

The firm provides advisory and operational services, enterprise development and transactional support to companies, investors and institutions through a proprietary approach that dovetails domain and process expertise. Kirchner Group also manages assets for family offices and some of the world’s largest insurance companies, commercial banks and institutional investors.  www.kirchnergroup.com

For further information:
Don Haliburton
Chief Operating Officer
Kirchner Group
+1 (205) 313-0784 x205
dhaliburton@kirchnergroup.com

Brett P. Giroir, MD
Managing Director
Kirchner Group
+1 (205) 313-0784 x 229
bgiroir@kirchnergroup.com