Anika Therapeutics announced that current executive VP, chief financial officer (CFO), and chief operating officer (COO) Stephen (Steve) Griffin has been appointed president, chief executive officer (CEO), and a member of the board of directors. He will take office on February 1, 2026.

Griffin succeeds Cheryl R. Blanchard, Ph.D., who will move to executive chair of the board. In addition, John (Jack) B. Henneman, III, director since 2020, was named lead independent director.

Griffin has served as Anika’s CFO since 2024 and COO since April 2025. At Anika, he’s led divestiture of assets as the company focused its strategy around hyaluronic acid and strengthened operations through reinvestment and process improvements.

Before joining Anika, he was senior VP and CFO at VSE Corporation, where he helped execute the strategic transformation of a 60-year-old company through business development and organic growth initiatives. Griffin also spent over ten years in roles of growing responsibility at General Electric.

“We are thrilled to announce Steve’s appointment as our next CEO. Since joining the company in 2024, Steve has been an exceptional, highly capable leader who has played an integral role advancing key strategic priorities, including accelerating profitability and positioning Anika to capture the significant value in our pipeline,” said Dr. Blanchard. “It has been a tremendous privilege to serve as Anika’s CEO for six years. I am proud of what our team has accomplished to restore active living for people globally as we refocused our strategy around Anika’s hyaluronic acid portfolio in both OA pain management and regenerative solutions. This includes launching the Integrity Implant System to treat tendon repairs, progressing our compelling clinical pipeline, and driving double digit growth in our commercial channel. Anika’s business has evolved, and as we work towards a new wave of regulatory approvals, we are at a natural point to transition leadership. I look forward to continuing to work with Steve in my new role as Executive Chair, and I am confident that Steve and the rest of the management team will build on our progress and bring Anika to new heights.”

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Cheryl for her leadership to transform the company,” added Henneman. “During her tenure as CEO, Anika repositioned itself as a focused leader in OA pain management and regenerative solutions with compelling innovation in areas of unmet need and substantial, growing markets and streamlined operations. Cheryl will remain on the Board as Executive Chair to support the transition, which will allow for Steve and his team and the Board to continue benefiting from her regulatory expertise and product development experience. Steve’s own background in finance and operations positions him as the right leader to drive Anika’s long-term profitable growth, and we are excited for the future.”