Pivot Bio, one of the world’s leading innovative agtech companies, has announced the appointment of Debra Frimerman as its new Chief Legal Officer. She steps into the role following the departure of General Counsel Devang Shah, who is leaving to pursue a new opportunity.

Frimerman brings more than two decades of legal expertise and strategic business development experience. In her new role, she will oversee Pivot Bio’s legal, compliance, and governance functions, providing guidance as the company scales up in North America and expands globally. A critical aspect of her responsibilities will include protecting Pivot Bio’s valuable portfolio of patents. She will continue to serve on the executive leadership team and report directly to CEO Chris Abbott.

“Debra is a trusted leader who understands both the letter of the law and the ambitions of a high-growth, science-driven company,” said Abbott. “Her experience navigating complex transactions and delivering strategic partnerships makes her the ideal chief legal officer as we enter our next chapter of growth and innovation. I’d also like to thank Devang for his valuable contributions and dedicated service to Pivot Bio’s legal operations.”

Since joining Pivot Bio, Frimerman has served as Chief Business Development Officer, where she was instrumental in driving new revenue streams, negotiating impactful partnerships, and supporting the company’s long-term growth strategy.

Before Pivot Bio, she held key roles including General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer at Calyxt. At Calyxt, she led legal, IP, licensing, and compliance functions, and played a pivotal role in the successful merger with Cibus—resulting in a combined company valuation exceeding $650 million. She also served as Associate General Counsel at Syngenta, heading legal for its U.S. seeds business and global technology licensing initiatives.

Frimerman has advised on public and private securities offerings that have collectively raised over $1 billion. She began her legal career at Stoel Rives and Lindquist & Vennum. She holds a JD from the University of Minnesota, magna cum laude, and a BA in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Source- Pivotbio