Derek Williams, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President & Head of Product Development

Dr. Derek Williams is the Senior Vice President & Head of Product Development for Leiters Health. He brings a strong background in STEM and a passion for innovative leadership. His journey began in 2008 at the University of Northern Colorado and continued through graduate research at the University of South Carolina, where his focus was on inorganic synthesis, material characterization, and hybrid organic-inorganic photophysics. He went on to work at Novomer, Inc. in Rochester, New York, contributing to catalyst synthesis and pilot plant readiness, and then spent the past six years at Nephron Pharmaceuticals in South Carolina, leading cross-functional teams and championing advancements in product development and quality operations. As a leader, Dr. Williams embraces a people-first, open-door approach- driving performance with focus and clarity while fostering a culture of trust, support, and collaboration.