The HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ) has officially announced its newly elected Board of Trustees officers and Steering Committee leadership, effective July 1.
Succeeding Leo Farber of Novartis and now Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, BD, Charles “Chuck” Leitgeb—Deputy Director of State Government Relations for Bayer US—has been elected to serve as the new Chair of the Board.
Leitgeb brings extensive public policy and legislative experience to the role, having managed state government and legislative activity across Bayer’s pharmaceutical, consumer health, crop science, and radiology sectors since joining the company in 2014. His background includes serving as Vice President of the Insurance Council of New Jersey and holding key communications roles within the New Jersey Legislature’s Assembly Republican Office. A proud Garden State native, Leitgeb holds a BA in English/Journalism and a minor in history from Rutgers University.
Expanded leadership lineup
In addition to Leitgeb’s election, the HINJ Board named a robust slate of executive officers:
- Vice Chair: Adam Brand, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy Corporate Affairs, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
- Treasurer: Christopher Guiton, Head of Home State Initiatives, Johnson & Johnson
- Board Secretary: Derek Naten, Vice President of Government Affairs & Advocacy, Keenova Therapeutics
Furthermore, HINJ announced key continuity within its Steering Committee, reappointing Adam Taliaferro (Director of State & Community Engagement, Johnson & Johnson) as Chair and George Coutros (Director of State Government Relations, Sanofi US) as Vice Chair.
Comprehensive board roster
The full 2026-2027 HINJ Board of Trustees includes:
- Charles “Chuck” Leitgeb (Chair), Bayer US
- Adam Brand (Vice Chair), Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
- Christopher Guiton (Treasurer), Johnson & Johnson
- Derek Naten (Board Secretary), Keenova Therapeutics
- Andrew Antrobus, Novo Nordisk, Inc.
- Domenick Argento, Merck & Co., Inc.
- Adam Lotspike, BD
- Joseph McGowan, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- Melissia Whitmarsh, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
