RJ Fitch
Dynamic Organizational Executive and Operations Leader
A healthcare executive based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Raymond "RJ" Fitch holds a bachelor's in biology from Philadelphia University and an executive MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. Focused on operations and project management, RJ Fitch is the vice president of operations at WuXi AppTec, a global leader in providing medical research and development and clinical and commercial contract manufacturing. He has direct line responsibility for cell & Gene therapy manufacturing, facility maintenance and engineering, health and safety, biological testing activities, and supply chain/logistics with dotted line reporting relationship of Quality.
Mr. Fitch built and refined his organization strategy and site operations management skills over a 25-plus year career ranging from large pharma, mid-sized biotech and most recently in the CTDMO space. He started his career at Merck & Co., Inc. in 1996 as a biologics release associate, and by 2004 he was area head of sterile operations and filling, responsible for 27 PACE Union operators and eight supervisors working to deliver 50 million vial units a year.
Raymond "RJ" Fitch later joined Sanofi Pasteur in 2004 as a director of vaccine formulation, aseptic filling, and visual inspection, overseeing 160 staff with an operating budget of $25 million. He went on to spend over 10 years at Sanofi Pasteur in ascending capacities . Mr. Fitch held roles including senior director of viral manufacturing, with responsibility for three production facilities with 520 personnel and an $85 million budget. RJ's first experience as a Site General Manger came in 2011 when he was named as Associate Vice president / GM at the recently acquired Genzyme facility. This role was solely focused on turning around the company’s rare disease division through the supply chain, cost, and quality remediation, leading to supply of a critical product to the market place and patient community two years ahead of schedule.
