Pelago Expands C-Suite with Top Industry Talent to Position Company for Next Phase of Growth

Leader in digital substance use management promotes three to executive leadership roles and hires Chief Product Officer

NEW YORK, January 25, 2024 — Pelago, the leading digital clinic partner to U.S. businesses and health plans for substance use management, today announced the appointment of Michael Reiff as Chief Product Officer and the promotion of Suzette Glasner, Ph.D., to Chief Scientific Officer. Additionally, Ed Daley has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer, and Paige Swanepoel has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer.

“We’re proud to have built such a talented team. These strategic moves are already positioning us for the next phase of expansion, enabling businesses and health plans to prioritize their populations’ access to clinically validated, cost effective, substance use management,” said Yusuf Sherwani, M.D., CEO and co-founder of Pelago.

Suzette Glasner, Ph.D., has been promoted to Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Glasner will oversee Pelago’s clinical research programs and ROI validation, and support product development from a clinical perspective. She works cross functionally at Pelago to ensure its substance use disorder (SUD) programs align with the most scientifically validated methods for treating SUDs and related mental health illnesses, and to drive clinically validated outcomes.

Dr. Glasner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and scientist whose research focuses on developing and testing digital behavioral treatments for addictions and related psychiatric and medical conditions. Her work leverages digital interventions to bolster adherence to medications for substance use disorders and extends to understanding psychotherapy and how it helps people change their behavior. The focus of her research studies has been cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and mindfulness-based treatments.

Dr. Glasner is author of the award-winning book The Addiction Recovery Skills Workbook (New Harbinger, 2015) and Addiction: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, July 2024, available for pre-order).

Michael Reiff serves as Pelago’s Chief Product Officer, leading product management, engineering and design. He brings expertise in establishing and scaling the product development function at high-growth companies. Prior to joining the Pelago team, Michael was Senior Vice President of Product Management at Experian Partner Solutions, guiding the development of Experian’s industry leading solutions for financial health and identity protection. Michael joined Experian following nearly 12 years leading product for early fintech pioneer Netspend, where he led the product organization through Netspend’s acquisition by TSYS, and TSYS’ merger with Global Payments. Earlier roles included product leadership positions with Austin-based startups Hoover’s Online (acquired by Dun & Bradstreet) and Offers.com (acquired by Ziff Davis). Michael holds a Masters in Business Administration from St. Edward’s University, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston, and is currently completing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University.

Ed Daley has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer. In his new role, he will be responsible for the implementation of commercial strategies and objectives across the sales organization. This includes supporting client strategy, thereby facilitating the entire client lifecycle from early in the sales process, continuing through to successful ROI/outcomes results. Ed previously served as Senior Vice President of Sales, where he led the North American sales team in its efforts to break down barriers to substance use care that works. As a sales executive with more than 20 years’ experience in health care technology, Ed is an expert in guiding employers and health plans through the health, wellness and benefits space. His experience includes business planning, partnership development, and client growth and management as well as building and mentoring high performing teams.

Paige Swanepoel has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer. In her new role, Paige will oversee all marketing, communications, brand, event and digital functions, with a focus on member growth, positioning and brand identity. Paige most recently served as Senior Vice President of marketing and was the driving force behind Pelago’s award-winning 2023 rebrand effort, where she leveraged design and messaging to create an intentionally approachable brand that addresses the stigma around substance use. Her previous experience includes brand strategy and digital marketing at multiple health and technology organizations, including WIN Fertility and Ideeon, as well as 20 years in digital publishing at companies such as Bonnier and National Geographic.

Pelago is revolutionizing substance use management and leading the industry with its 3x ROI and 100% fees-at-risk business model, based on validated clinical outcomes and performance metrics. Pelago offers integrated multi-addiction substance use management to employer and health plan populations, and the company’s substance use platform includes specialized treatment for tobacco, alcohol and opioid use disorders, including support for adolescents.