Alvaro F. Guillem, Ph.D. – President and Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Guillem is a founder and President and Chief Executive Officer of ZS Pharma. Over the last 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Guillem has managed Quality, Regulatory Compliance, Product Development, Regulatory Affairs, Control and Development laboratories, as well as all operational activities in many pharmaceutical plants. He has held managerial and senior positions in major pharmaceutical companies such as Wyeth and Boeringher Ingelheim, as well as startup companies such as Medeva Americas and Adams Laboratories, bringing many new products to the market. In his most recent roles, Dr. Guillem held the positions of Vice President of Scientific and Quality Affairs for Ash Access Technology, Inc., Vice President of Quality and Pharmaceutical Science at BoneCare/Genzyme and Vice President and General Manager at Adams Laboratories.

Stephen R. Ash, M.D. – Chief Medical Officer: Dr. Stephen Ash is a founder of ZS Pharma and is also its Chief Medical Officer. From 1975 to 1983, Dr. Ash served as a Research Associate and Director of Hemodialysis Laboratory at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies, Purdue University. He is an author of over twenty-five US patents and nearly one hundred publications in the areas of hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, vascular access devices, extracorporeal medical devices, computerized medical charting, and sorbent chemicals.  In 2008, Dr. Ash received the Gerald A. Beathard Lifetime Achievement Award from his peers, at the 4th Annual ASDIN Scientific Meeting, and is an active member of several professional society boards, including the International Federation for Artificial Organs. Dr. Ash received a BA in physics from Northwestern University and a M.D. from Kansas University Medical School. Dr. Ash is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Nephrology section, and a Fellow of American College of Physicians.

Donald Jeffrey Keyser, R.Ph., J.D., Ph.D. – Chief Operating Officer: Jeffrey Keyser is a founder and Chief Operating Officer of ZS Pharma. Over the last 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Keyser has been involved with regulatory and medical affairs, and regulatory product development activities. He is the former Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer at Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vice President, Development and Regulatory Affairs at Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc., and Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Technical Affairs at Medeva Americas. He has also held senior management positions at Marion Merrell Dow, Marion Laboratories and Abbott Laboratories over his career. He has directed efforts to prepare and secure approvals of numerous INDs and NDAs/MAAs both in the US, Canada, Australia and in Europe.  Dr. Keyser has a BS in Pharmacy and a J.D. from Creighton University, a Masters in Public Affairs and Administration from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and a Ph.D. in Public Affairs and Political Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Henrik Sandvad Rasmussen, M.D., Ph.D. – Chief Scientific Officer: Henrik Sandvad Rasmussen, M.D., Ph.D. graduated Valedictorian from the University of Copenhagen School of Medicine, Denmark (1985) and received a Doctor of Medical Science (an extended Ph.D.) from the University of Copenhagen (1992).  He has a Diploma in Professional Management & Business Administration from Milton Keys Open University in the United Kingdom.  He practiced medicine at a major university hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark prior to joining industry.  Dr. Rasmussen has over 20 years of experience at senior and executive level positions with big Pharma (Pfizer), midsize pharma (Novo Nordisk) and biotech (British Biotech, Genvec and Nabi Biopharmaceuticals), from Europe (Pfizer) and North America.  He has extensive experience with small molecules as well as biologics and was responsible for clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs as Sr. VP and Chief Medical Officer for Genvec Inc. and Nabi Biopharmaceticals and as Corporate VP, Head of Clinical Development, Medical & Regulatory Affairs for Novo Nordisk, where he led an organization of approximately 500 people in drug development, regulatory and medical affairs, safety and medical communication. Dr. Rasmussen has experience in numerous therapeutic areas, including diabetes/metabolism, cardiovascular, oncology, neurology, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, blood and plasma products, vaccines, ophthalmology, dermatology etc. He has been responsible for numerous regulatory filings worldwide (INDs, BLAs, NDAs, 510Ks etc.) and has successfully presented in front of FDA Advisory Committees. During his time in biotech, he was intimately involved in taking Genvec public (IPO) and has been involved in numerous equity raises for British Biotech, Genvec and Nabi; in addition, he has been closely involved in M&As, as well as product acquisitions and divestments.   In addition, he has published more than 150 full papers, reviews and book chapters in numerous different therapeutic areas in some of the leading medical journals of the world (incl. Lancet, Lancet Oncology, BMJ, Circulation, Gastroenterology, J Clin Oncol, Arch Intern Med, Am J Cardiol, Am Heart J).

Nels P. Bergmark – Treasurer: Mr. Bergmark was the of Treasurer and Human Resource Director of Ash Access Technology, Inc. and HemoCleanse, Inc. and its spin-offs from 1998 to 2011.  He holds a B.A. degree in accounting and education from Western Michigan University.