ASAP Appoints Six New Leaders 

Needham, MA, June 30, 2026—The Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP) today announced the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors, strengthening the organization’s leadership and expanding its global, cross-industry perspective at a pivotal moment of growth. 

“We are honored to welcome this accomplished and diverse group of leaders to the ASAP Board of Directors,” said Nicole Boston, CAE, CA-AM, president and CEO of ASAP. “Through their expertise and volunteer leadership, these individuals will help shape the future of ASAP and the profession, expanding our education, strengthening our global community, and advancing career pathways for thousands of alliance professionals each year.” 

New members joining the board include Suzanne Collins, head of strategic planning and enablement at Takeda, who brings deep expertise in strategic planning and operational excellence within global biopharma alliances; Nancy Griffin, EdD, CSAP, CA-AM, vice president of program and alliance management at Valo Health, who leverages extensive experience advancing alliance management maturity and building high-performing partnership organizations; Brent Harvey, CA-AM, executive director of alliance management at Eli Lilly and Company, who brings strong financial and operational leadership with deep experience aligning alliances to enterprise strategy and long-term value creation; Christoph Huwe, PhD, CSAP, CA-AM, senior director of strategic alliance management at Bayer AG Pharmaceuticals, who contributes global leadership in complex alliance ecosystems and cross-border collaboration; Kimberly King, chief partner officer at PTC, who offers a strong track record in scaling partner ecosystems and driving growth through technology alliances; and Philip Sailer, CSAP, CA-AM, executive director of the Storage Solutions Team at IBM, who provides deep expertise in enterprise partnerships and developing innovative, high-impact technology solutions. 

Theresa Caragol, CEO and founder of AchieveUnite, and Jamie Donald, CSAP, CA-AM, program director of technology partners at Axis Communications, continue their service on the board. 

Together, these leaders reflect the growing strategic importance of alliances in driving innovation, growth, and cross-sector collaboration. They will play a central role in shaping ASAP’s next chapter. 

Katherine Kendrick, CSAP, CA-AM, executive director and head of alliance management at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, has been appointed board chair, and Aida Bendt, CA-AM, head of alliance management, Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, will serve as vice chair. 

In accordance with ASAP’s bylaws, the organization maintains three officer roles: president, treasurer, and secretary. Brent Harvey, CA-AM, executive director of alliance management at Eli Lilly and Company, has been appointed treasurer, serving in a dual capacity as both a board member and officer of the organization. Nicole Boston, CAE, CA-AM, president and CEO of ASAP, serves as president and secretary and as an ex officio member of the board, ensuring strong alignment between board leadership and organizational execution. 

“This is a defining moment for ASAP and for the alliance profession,” said Katherine Kendrick, incoming board chair. “Strategic alliances continue to increase in importance to how organizations innovate, grow, and achieve value, we have both the opportunity and responsibility to elevate the role of alliance professionals worldwide. We will expand our global community, deepen member value, and help shape the future of partnerships across industries.” 

This board transition also marks the conclusion of service for six long-tenured volunteers whose dedication and leadership helped shape ASAP and advance the alliance management profession. 

David Thompson, CSAP, CA-AM, and Brooke Paige, CSAP, CA-AM, each served as board chair, guiding ASAP through pivotal periods of growth and transformation. R. Lynn Richard, CSAP, CA-AM, served in key leadership roles, including treasurer and vice chair, advancing certification and professional development throughout his tenure. Knut Sturmhoefel, PhD, CA-AM, provided dedicated financial leadership as treasurer while championing global membership engagement. Jan Twombly, CSAP, CA-AM, made lasting contributions to programming and content and was instrumental in defining the standards and practices that have come to define the profession. Sally Wang led critical governance and legal initiatives and was a consistent champion for enterprise engagement. 

“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our outgoing board members,” Boston added. “Their collective service spans decades and has shaped nearly every aspect of this organization. We are grateful for what they built and for the strong foundation they leave behind.” 

About ASAP 

The Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP) is the premier global community for professionals who drive success through strategic alliances and partnerships. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, ASAP advances the alliance management profession through education, certification, and a global community of members across all industries, serving those at every stage of their careers. Learn more at www.strategic-alliances.org. 

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Media Contact 

Kimberly Miller 

Director, Marketing and Communications, ASAP 

kmiller@strategic-alliances.org, +1 781-916-8652 x105