SAN CARLOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Helix, the personal genomics company that brings DNA-powered partner apps and insights to consumers, today announced the appointment of Robin Thurston as chief executive officer. Robin previously co-founded and built MapMyFitness into one of the world’s largest open fitness tracking platforms and most recently served as chief digital officer at Under Armour, where he led the overall strategic direction of the company’s Connected Fitness business. At Helix, his leadership will help build the world’s first personal genomics platform.
“As an industry, we’re at the starting point of understanding how our DNA impacts all aspects of our lives -- from our ancestry and lifestyle, to our health and wellness,” said Robin Thurston, CEO of Helix. “I’m thrilled to join such a brilliant team and to partner with some of the world’s biggest companies to help people make more informed everyday life decisions based on their DNA.”
Bringing on a seasoned CEO with deep technology and consumer-facing experience is a natural next step for the company. Robin joins a team of 70 people split between headquarters in the Bay Area and lab operations in San Diego. Earlier this year, Helix completed construction on a state-of-the art NGS laboratory in San Diego. The lab is core to Helix’s operations and provides large-scale sequencing and database services to high-quality partners. Helix is currently testing samples from a closed Alpha program and is on track to operate one of the largest CLIA, CAP-accredited NGS facilities in the world.
“Over the last several months, the Helix co-founders have been quietly building a world-class team, a high-throughput lab and a secure genomics data infrastructure,” stated Jay Flatley, Chairman of the Helix Board and Executive Chairman of Illumina. “Robin is an exceptional choice for CEO and will no doubt help take Helix to the next level as DNA sequencing is poised to go mainstream.”
Helix’s vibrant partner ecosystem is growing to bring DNA-powered insights to everyday products and experiences. Current partners include Mayo Clinic, LabCorp, GoodStart Genetics and Duke University, and more will be announced later this year. For information on Helix’s partner program, visit www.helix.com.
About Helix
Helix is a rapidly growing startup focused on personal genomics. Helix has a simple but powerful mission: to empower every person to improve their life through DNA. We’re creating an ecosystem where people can explore diverse and uniquely personalized applications provided by high-quality partners. Helix handles sample collection, DNA sequencing, and secure data storage so that our partners can develop on-demand products in areas such as health, fitness, nutrition, lifestyle, genealogy, and inherited traits. Helix is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and operates one of the world’s largest next-generation sequencing laboratories in San Diego. You can learn more at www.helix.com or follow @my_helix.
