RALEIGH, N.C. — Caidya has named Michael Clay as chief operating officer, a move the company said will strengthen its global operational delivery and support multi-regional clinical development for innovative biopharmaceutical sponsors.
In his new role, Clay will lead Caidya’s global operations, client engagement model, and execution strategy, with a focus on serving sponsors across the U.S., Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. The company said the appointment underscores its emphasis on combining global reach with strong regional expertise, particularly in APAC and China.
Clay brings extensive experience in global project delivery and site relationship strategy, having led large-scale clinical programs across more than 60 countries. He is known for building high-performing delivery organizations and for a hands-on approach to site partnerships, especially in Asia-Pacific markets where regulatory complexity and close site collaboration are critical.
Most recently, Clay served as senior vice president of Global Project Delivery at Fortrea, where he oversaw more than 500 global clinical trials. His career also includes COO and senior operations roles at other global contract research organizations and site management groups. Caidya said his experience aligning sponsors, sites, and cross-functional teams will help the company deliver more agile and integrated solutions for biotech clients.
“Mike’s leadership strengthens one of our most important differentiators — our ability to combine global reach with regional expertise, particularly across APAC and China,” said Barbara Lopez Kunz, CEO of Caidya. “His deep understanding of site engagement, global execution, and sponsor partnership will help us scale while preserving the agility, accountability, and transparency our clients value.”
“I’m excited to join Caidya at a time when global clinical development is becoming more interconnected and more complex,” Clay said. “Caidya is strategically positioned to help sponsors accelerate programs while maintaining quality and patient focus.”
Caidya said the appointment supports its continued evolution as a globally integrated, mid-sized CRO focused on partner-level collaboration rather than transactional execution. The company added that its APAC infrastructure and regional leadership provide sponsors with access to diverse patient populations and the ability to execute complex, multi-regional trials.
The hire is part of a broader effort to expand Caidya’s global leadership team. Recent additions include oncology and hematology specialist Edward Dow, M.D., head of business development for Europe Mario Bautista, and several commercial executives in the U.S. with an average of more than 20 years of life sciences experience.
