FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Jesse McCool, Ph.D., has been named chief executive officer of GBI Biomanufacturing Inc., a Florida-based contract development and manufacturing organization serving developers of biologic therapies.
McCool joined GBI in late 2025 and most recently served as president and chief operating officer. As CEO, he will lead the company’s operations and its efforts to expand commercial-scale manufacturing and early-stage services for biologic products, according to GBI.
“Since joining GBI, Jesse has demonstrated a strong commitment to our clients, our mission, and the disciplined execution and innovation required to position the company for its next stage of growth,” said Karl Pinto, chairman of GBI’s Board of Directors, in a press release.
McCool has more than 25 years of experience in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Before joining GBI, he held executive positions at Bionova Scientific, Our Blood Institute, Cytovance Biologics and Lonza. He also was co-founder and CEO of Wheeler Bio.
Since joining GBI, McCool has worked on commercial readiness, operational programs, inspection readiness and service offerings, according to the company. GBI said he also has been involved in its SmartScale GMP platform for small-scale manufacturing of biologic products for first-in-human clinical studies.
“I am honored by the Board’s confidence and excited to lead GBI through this important next chapter,” McCool said in a press release. “We have a talented and dedicated team, strong scientific and manufacturing capabilities, and a clear opportunity to serve clients from early development through commercial supply.”
GBI has operated for more than 30 years and has supported more than 500 large-molecule programs, 50 bioconjugation projects and 50 regulatory filings, according to the company. Its operations include process development and cGMP drug substance and drug product manufacturing.
