R. Nolan Townsend serves as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors at Lexeo Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering gene therapies for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. With over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, Mr. Townsend has a proven track record in company formation, business development, and strategic leadership. He assumed the CEO role at Lexeo in 2021, guiding the company through key milestones including its public listing via a SPAC merger in 2023 and the advancement of its pipeline, which includes investigational therapies like LX2006 for Friedreich's ataxia and LX9211 for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Prior to Lexeo, Mr. Townsend was Chief Business Officer at Sio Gene Therapies, where he drove partnerships and licensing deals for gene therapy programs targeting Parkinson's disease and Rett syndrome. His earlier career at Roivant Sciences spanned multiple roles, culminating as Managing Director, during which he spearheaded the creation and capitalization of several subsidiary ventures focused on innovative therapeutics. Mr. Townsend began his professional journey in healthcare investment banking at Goldman Sachs, honing his expertise in biopharma transactions and strategy. Under Mr. Townsend's leadership, Lexeo has raised significant capital, expanded its clinical programs into Phase 1/2 trials, and forged strategic collaborations to accelerate gene therapy delivery platforms. His strategic vision has positioned Lexeo as a leader in precision medicine for genetically defined diseases, earning recognition for advancing novel AAV-based therapies toward potential commercialization. A graduate of Duke University and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Townsend continues to champion innovation at the intersection of genetics and cardiology.