The Solesis Team
Karen M. West
President & Chief Executive Officer
As CEO, Karen West leverages her passion, energy, and tenacity to transform life sciences companies and drive revenue and profit growth. With a vision spanning more than 20 years, Karen has grown Solesis into a leading biomaterials company that serves the medtech and biopharmaceutical markets with innovative solutions.
Applying broad executive experience across diverse business functions, Karen led the transformation of Secant Group, a small, family-owned industrial company, from 2002 to 2021 into a multi-million-dollar medical device component enterprise through more than a decade of global public ownership.
In 2021, Karen played a pivotal role in changing the ownership structure of Solesis. By partnering with private equity firm Altaris Capital Partners, Karen helped establish Solesis as an independent company, creating significant value for shareholders.
Karen holds a master’s in business administration from Lehigh University with a minor in Corporate Entrepreneurship, and a bachelor’s degree from Jefferson University.
Christopher B. Edwards
Chief Financial Officer
Chris Edwards joined the Solesis team in 2013. He is responsible for all finance activities across the Solesis operating companies: Secant Group, SanaVita Medical, and Charter Medical. As CFO, Chris works alongside the president of Solesis, Karen West, to oversee the development and expansion of the business.
Previously, Chris worked for Bristol-Myers Squibb, ConvaTec, and Syneos Health, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States, which gave him a solid underpinning in global finance. Chris has spent time building finance teams, setting up shared services models, supporting senior leadership, and managing acquisitions and divestitures.
In his leadership role, Chris is instrumental in pursuing the division’s business development strategies and focuses on guiding and developing the financial leadership teams at Solesis’s operating companies.
Chris holds a master’s in business administration from the Manchester Business School, UK, and is a chartered global management accountant (CGMA) qualifying in Liverpool, UK.
Jeff Robertson
Chief Operating Officer
Jeff Robertson serves as Chief Operating Officer of Solesis and President of the Secant Group, SanaVita Medical, and Charter Medical. He joined Secant as a vice president in 2011, during which time he managed the strategic oversight of business development, marketing, client accounts, product development, and operations.
Previously, Jeff worked at ARmark Authentication Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adhesives Research, Inc. Robertson co-developed ARmark Authentication Technologies in 2005 and served as the director and general manager.
Previously, Jeff held various positions at Adhesives Research including general manager of a global business unit. He began his career in pharmaceutical sales at Bristol-Meyers Squibb and handled the opening of a new state organization for Bock Pharmaceuticals. Jeff earned a master’s in business administration from Kennedy-Western University and a bachelor’s degree in Bio-Behavioral Science (pre-med) from Colby College.
Jerry O'Connor
Sr. Vice President, Commercial Strategy & Business Development
A proven servant leader and strategist grounded in vision, process, and discipline, Jerry oversees the sales, marketing, and business development activities for Solesis’ growing portfolio of life sciences companies.
With decades of experience in a commercial business environment across a variety of healthcare innovation settings, Jerry takes a hands-on, pragmatic approach to creating a leadership culture that sets the foundation for building high-performing teams that deliver results and a strong commitment to customers. Leveraging his leadership skills, business acumen, and technical expertise, Jerry has deep experience in formulating go-to-market strategies, accelerating pipeline generation, and maintaining critical business relationships.
Jerry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Norwich University – The Military College of Vermont.