Our People
Randal J. Kirk
Randal J. Kirk, Chairman and Senior Managing Director of Third Security, LLC, an investment management firm founded by Mr. Kirk. Additionally, Mr. Kirk founded and became Chairman of the Board of New River Pharmaceuticals Inc. (previously traded on NASDAQ prior to its acquisition by Shire plc in 2007) in 1996, and was President and Chief Executive Officer between October 2001 and April 2007. Mr. Kirk began his professional career in the private practice of law. Previously, Mr. Kirk served as a member of the Board of Directors of Scios, Inc. (previously traded on NASDAQ prior to its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson) between February 2000 and May 2002, as a member of the Board of Directors of Clinical Data, Inc. (previously traded on NASDAQ prior to its acquisition by Forest Laboratories, Inc. in April 2011) from September 2002 to April 2011, and was Chairman of the Board from December 2004 to April 2011, as a member of the Board of Directors of Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) from May 2007 to May 2018, and as a member of the Board of Directors of ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZIOP) from January 2011 to October 2018.
Mr. Kirk has served as Executive Chairman of Precigen, Inc. (formerly Intrexon Corporation) (NASDAQ: PGEN) since January 2020. Previously, Mr. Kirk served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Precigen, Inc. from February 2008 until December 2019, and as Chief Executive Officer from April 2009 until December 2019. Since May 2015, Mr. Kirk has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Previously, Mr. Kirk served on the Board of Visitors of Radford University from July 2003 to June 2009, was Rector of the Board from September 2006 to September 2008, and served on the Board of Directors of the Radford University Foundation, Inc. from September 1998 to May 2011. He served on the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia and Affiliated Schools from July 2009 to October 2012, on the Virginia Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates from July 2006 to October 2012, and on the Governor's Economic Development and Jobs Creation Commission from April 2010 to October 2012. Mr. Kirk received a BA in Business from Radford University and a JD from the University of Virginia.
Marcus Smith
Marcus Smith, Senior Managing Director, Chief Compliance Officer, and General Counsel.
Mr. Smith joined Third Security upon its inception and has since been principally responsible for legal matters and transaction execution. Since February 2020, Mr. Smith has served as President of Eleszto Genetika, Inc. and as President of GreenVenus, L.L.C. Mr. Smith served as a member of the Board of Directors of Fibrocell Science, Inc. (previously traded on Nasdaq prior to its acquisition by Castle Creek Pharmaceutical Holdings in December 2019) from October 2012 until December 2019.
Mr. Smith has served in various other capacities, including as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of New River Pharmaceuticals Inc. from August 1996 until April 2004, as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc. between 1994 and 1998 and as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of GIV Holdings, Inc. between 1996 and 1998. Previously he was an attorney in the legal departments of The Southland Corporation and Occidental Oil & Gas Corporation. Mr. Smith received a BBA and a JD from the University of Georgia.
Theodore J. Fisher
Theodore J. Fisher, Senior Managing Director.
Mr. Fisher joined Third Security in 2003 and focuses on corporate strategy, mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions, contracts, governance, securities and regulatory issues. Mr. Fisher serves as a board member and executive officer of numerous portfolio companies. Since February 2020, Mr. Fisher has served as Secretary of Oxitec Holdings, LLC, Vice President, Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of Oxitec UK Holdings, Inc., as a member of the Board of Directors of Oxitec Limited, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Oxitec Insect Holdings Limited. Since February 2020, he has also served as Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of Eleszto Genetika, Inc., as President, Secretary and member of the Board of Managers of Okanagan Produce Holdings, LLC, and as Vice President, Secretary and member of the Board of Managers of Fruit Orchard Holdings, LLC.
Previously, Mr. Fisher has served in various roles for portfolio companies, including serving in the following roles: as a member of the Board of Directors of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: AQB) from April 2020 to May 2022; as the President, Secretary and Treasurer of Pinnacle Pharmaceuticals, LLC from December 2011 to September 2013 and previously as Secretary, Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of its predecessor, Pinnacle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., from May 2007 to December 2011; as Secretary and Treasurer of Genopaver, LLC from March 2013 until December 2020, and as a member of the company’s Joint Steering Committee from December 2014 until December 2020; as Secretary, Treasurer and member of the Joint Steering Committee of Persea Bio, LLC from December 2014 until July 2020; and as Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of Vital Diagnostics Holding Corp. from June 2007 until December 2012. Mr. Fisher also served as a member of the Advisory Board of NewVa Capital Partners, LP from January 2006 until the dissolution of the fund in December 2014.
Prior to joining Third Security, Mr. Fisher practiced law in the areas of capital markets and mergers and acquisitions at the law firm of Hunton & Williams LLP in Richmond, Virginia. He received his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from the William & Mary School of Law.
Clifton R. Herndon II
Clifton R. Herndon II, Managing Director, and Controller.
Mr. Herndon joined Third Security upon its inception and served as the firm's Controller. Mr. Herndon focuses on audit, internal control, financial operations, and technical accounting issues for Third Security and portfolio companies of Third Security's managed investment funds. Since February 2020, Mr. Herndon has served as Vice President and Treasurer of Fruit Orchard Holdings, Inc., as Vice President and Treasurer of Okanagan Produce Holdings, Inc.
As Treasurer of GreenVenus, L.L.C. Mr. Herndon served as Vice President and Controller of New River Pharmaceuticals Inc. from August 2004 until August 2007, shortly after its acquisition by Shire plc. During that time, he was not employed by Third Security. Mr. Herndon has also served as the Director of Financial Operations for Biological & Popular Culture, Inc., Assistant Controller for GIV Holdings, Inc. from November 1997 through December 31, 1998, Assistant Controller and Cost Accounting Manager with Long-Airdox Company, a manufacturer of mining equipment, from May 1996 to November 1997 and Manager in the audit practice of Ernst & Young L.L.P. from October 1994 to May 1996. Mr. Herndon began his career with Ernst & Young L.L.P., in July 1989. Mr. Herndon received a BBA in Accounting from Marshall University.
Julian P. Kirk
Julian P. Kirk, CEO. [AJ1]
Mr. Kirk joined Third Security upon its inception and works with several portfolio companies of Third Security's managed investment funds and is involved with oversight of Third Security's internal operations. Since March 2013, Mr. Kirk has served as a member of the Joint Steering Committee of Genopaver, L.L.C., and since December 2014, he has served as a member of the Joint Steering Committee of Persea Bio, LLC Mr. Kirk served as a member of the Board of Directors of Fibrocell Science, Inc. (previously traded on Nasdaq prior to its acquisition by Castle Creek Pharmaceutical Holdings in December 2019) from October 2012 until December 2019.
Also, he served on the board of the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance from August 2010 until June 2019. Previously, Mr. Kirk served as a member of the Board of Directors of AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation (NYSE: APHB) from June 2013 until April 2016, as a member of the Board of Directors of IntelliMat, Inc. from October 2006 until December 2011, serving as Co-Chairman of the Board from September 2008 until December 2011, as President of Harvest Pharmaceuticals Inc. from December 2005 until September 2011, and as Chairman of the Board of Managers of ECDS, L.L.C. from June 2008 until March 2010. In 2001, he served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Biological & Popular Culture, Inc. In 2000, he served as president of SFR, LLC and then as Chief Operating Officer of Talkflow Systems, LLC. Mr. Kirk worked as Marketing Manager for General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc. from 1998 to 1999. Mr. Kirk graduated as an Echols Scholar from the University of Virginia.
Doit L. Koppler II
Doit L. Koppler II, Managing Director and Treasurer.
Mr. Koppler joined Third Security in 2001 and manages the finance and family office investment functions of Third Security. Since February 2020, Mr. Koppler has served as Vice President and Member of the Board of Directors of Oxitec UK Holdings, Inc., as a member of the Board of Directors of Oxitec Limited and as a member of the Board of Directors of Oxitec Insect Holdings Limited. Additionally, since February 2020, Mr. Koppler has served as Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of Eleszto Genetika, Inc. Mr. Koppler previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of Transgenomic, Inc., which was renamed Precipio, Inc. (NasdaqCM: PRPO) from December 2010 to June 2017. Mr. Koppler also served as Vice President, Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of Vital Diagnostics Holding Corp. from June 2007 to December 2012. Prior to joining Third Security, Mr. Koppler served as Vice President and Controller of General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc. and as a Manager in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Koppler is a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountant and a Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has also held Series 7 and Series 66 securities registrations. Mr. Koppler received a B.S. in Accounting from Salem University (formerly Salem College).
Betty J. Davis
Betty J. Davis, Vice President of Taxation.
Ms. Davis joined Third Security in July 2008 and co-leads the tax department at Third Security, working with the income tax structuring and compliance areas for Third Security and portfolio companies of Third Security's managed investment funds. Prior to joining Third Security, Ms. Davis was a Senior Financial Planner with Wachovia Wealth Management for six years, where she advised high net worth individuals on corporate planning, estate planning, and income tax planning issues.
Ms. Davis is a Certified Public Accountant, a Personal Financial Specialist, a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and a Certified Financial Planner. She also spent 12 years as a Senior Manager and tax practice leader at KPMG LLP, where she provided income tax compliance and consulting services for corporations, high net worth individuals, partnerships, trusts, estates, and employee benefit plans. Ms. Davis received her BA in Accounting from Radford University.
William Kurtz
William Kurtz, Vice President, Business Security and Analysis.
Dr. Kurtz joined Third Security in 2014 and focuses on due diligence investigations and security oversight for Third Security and portfolio companies of its affiliated investment funds, including as Director, Security and Resiliency at Precigen, Inc. Prior to joining Third Security, Dr. Kurtz retired from his career as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where he served in various capacities and locations throughout the United States. Entering on duty in 1990, he was assigned to the Los Angeles Division where he investigated white collar crimes and latter violent crime major offenders (VCMO) matters on a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) – FBI South Central Task Force. Selected to the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) in 1994 he deployed extensively both domestically and internationally. Dr. Kurtz’s latter management and supervisory experience included significant roles in the East Africa Bombings and 9/11 investigations. He supervised the Arizona Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and later the National JTTF in Washington, D.C. In the early 2000’s as the FBI began to centralize investigative oversight, he was selected to form the first headquarters-based CT investigative team. With this team he led investigations into Afghanistan, Africa, Gaza Strip, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. The unit was awarded the National Intelligence Meritorious Citation. His last assignment was as an instructor at the National Defense University where he instructed courses in leadership, strategy, and industry studies. Dr. Kurtz received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Vermont. He received an M.S. in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and an M.A. in Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps University. Dr. Kurtz received his Ed.D. from George Washington University.