Longeveron® Appoints Stephen H. Willard as Chief Executive Officer

Core Viewpoint - Longeveron Inc. has appointed Stephen H. Willard as the new CEO, effective February 11, 2026, succeeding Than Powell, who served as interim CEO [1][2][5]. Company Overview - Longeveron Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing regenerative medicines to address unmet medical needs, particularly in life-threatening conditions affecting children and the elderly [3][5]. - The company's lead investigational product is laromestrocel (LOMECEL-B®), an allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy derived from the bone marrow of young, healthy adult donors [3]. Leadership Transition - Stephen H. Willard brings over 30 years of leadership experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, having previously served as CEO for multiple firms [5]. - Than Powell will remain with the company to support the leadership transition and continue his work in business development activities [5]. Clinical Development - Longeveron is currently conducting a pivotal Phase 2b clinical trial for laromestrocel as a potential treatment for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), with top-line results expected in the third quarter of 2026 [2][5]. - The company has received important FDA designations for its development programs, including Orphan Drug designation, Fast Track designation, and Rare Pediatric Disease designation for the HLHS program [3][6].