Susan Lynch-Smith, Head of Business Development for Douglas CDMO brings a unique and powerful combination of scientific foundation and commercial scaling capabilities to Douglas CDMO, positioning the company strategically within the competitive global market.
She has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having initiated her career as a chemist. This fundamental scientific expertise, covering skills such as Chromatography, Chemical Analysis, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Analytical Method Development, is highly leveraged in her current role. This background enables her to translate complex scientific requirements and formulation challenges into compelling business cases for potential clients. This technical fluency is vital in an environment where outsourcing partners’ scientific acumen is frequently the determining factor in a program’s ultimate success.
She is strategically based in North Carolina. Her location is deliberately chosen to facilitate direct engagement and partnership development within the major U.S. biopharma corridor, providing a crucial bridge for Douglas CDMO’s services to Northern Hemisphere clients.
Every career has a defining moment, a point where the “why” becomes impossible to ignore.
For me, that moment arrived long before I ever stepped foot inside Douglas.
Back in 1988, I was a young chemist at Burroughs Wellcome, completely energized by the idea that the work inside the lab could ripple out into the world: helping a stranger breathe easier, fight disease harder, or live longer. I was hooked. I saw firsthand how science, passion, and purpose can truly change lives.
The 1990s brought transformation. The pharma landscape shifted, Burroughs Wellcome joined Glaxo, and the CDMO model began to rise, challenging us to rethink how medicines could be developed faster, smarter, and with global reach. I dove headfirst into this new frontier and spent decades learning what makes the sponsor–CDMO partnership thrive: trust, transparency, adaptability, and an unstoppable belief in the mission.
So, when I encountered the story of Douglas Pharmaceuticals, something remarkable happened…it reignited that spark from my early days.
Founded in 1967 by Sir Graeme Douglas, a dreamer, a builder, a bold Kiwi force, Douglas didn’t just grow… it soared. Still family-owned today, Douglas operates in more than 55 countries, tackling tough formulations that others shy away from. Softgels, liquids, and highly complex dosage forms aren’t our niche, they’re our calling.
That’s why I joined Douglas CDMO.
Because here, people are the power behind every breakthrough. We don’t just believe in high performance, we live it.
What sets Douglas CDMO apart: The Synergizer Mindset
Orchestrating Success
Our project leaders connect every function: formulation, operations, supply chain, quality, and partners into a unified momentum machine.
Communication Without Walls
No silos. No stalls. Just teams solving problems together, fast and fearlessly.
A Culture that Strives and Thrives
Our people are:
- Solutions-oriented
- Positive under pressure
- Disciplined and accountable
- Self-driven owners of outcomes
- Skilled communicators and trusted teammates
This is more than teamwork; it’s synergy in motion.
This is Douglas CDMO
- Driven by enduring legacy
- Powered by people
- Committed to advancing complex medicines with excellence
Ultimately, my choice to join Douglas CDMO wasn’t just a career move, it was a homecoming to that original spark of purpose I felt decades ago. The spirit that Sir Graeme Douglas instilled lives on, driving us to tackle the world’s most complex formulations with boldness and excellence.
By championing the Synergizer Mindset, we ensure that every function, every project, and every person is unified in a singular, powerful momentum. This is more than a CDMO; it’s a dedicated team, powered by an enduring legacy, and committed to writing the next chapter of global health advancements. The journey ahead is unfolding boldly, globally, and full of promise, and I am thrilled to be a part of what comes next.
Synergizer Sue — Signing on For the Future