Lightship Appoints Michael Shipton as Chief Commercial Officer to Accelerate Growth and Market Leadership

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lightship Inc., a leading provider of community-based, decentralized clinical trial services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Shipton as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). With a proven track record of driving growth and innovation in the life sciences and technology sectors, Shipton will play a key role in reshaping Lightship’s go-to-market strategy and strengthening its ability to meet the growing complexity of representative clinical trials.

Shipton brings over 30 years of experience in designing and executing high-impact business solutions, with expertise across sales management and operations, marketing, strategic pricing and partnerships, finance, global operations, and customer engagement. As Lightship enters an exciting new phase of growth, his leadership will be essential in expanding the company’s service offerings and driving strategic business development efforts that will enable Lightship to meet the evolving needs of its clients.

“Michael’s appointment comes at a critical juncture in Lightship’s growth,” said David MacMurchy, CEO of Lightship. “His extensive experience working in both the CRO and site spaces, combined with his ability to solve complex client challenges, makes him the ideal leader to strengthen our market positioning. Michael’s strategic vision, proven ability to drive business growth, and commitment to patient-centered solutions will be instrumental in helping us expand our reach to more clients—and ultimately more patients—enhancing our impact across the industry.”

Shipton has held senior leadership positions at some of the most recognized names in the industry, including Profound Research, Science 37, Syneos Health, and Quintiles (now IQVIA), where he led significant go-to-market transformations, drove sales growth, and oversaw cross-functional teams to achieve commercial excellence. His proven track record and passion for improving health outcomes will be critical to driving Lightship’s mission forward with even greater impact.

“I have always believed in the transformative power of clinical trials to improve health outcomes, and I’m excited to join Lightship during this pivotal period of growth,” said Shipton. “I look forward to collaborating with the team to advance Lightship’s mission, reach more patients, and develop solutions that address the complexities facing clinical trials today. Together, we can continue to make trials more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for individuals and communities everywhere.”

About Lightship®

Lightship Inc. is a clinical trials service provider focused on increasing access and ensuring research reflects representative populations. We partner with biopharma, CROs, and academic institutions to design and deliver studies that engage diverse and underserved patient groups, accelerating enrollment while improving patient access in clinical trials.

Through targeted outreach and education, we connect with potential participants in their community, building trust and reducing barriers to enrollment. Our decentralized and hybrid trial models, supported by our site network, mobile research units (MRUs), and mobile nurses allow patients to take part in research that fits their lives, whether at home, in a clinic, or at an MRU in the community.

By making trials more accessible and patient-centered, we reduce enrollment timelines, improve retention, and accelerate the development of therapies that better reflect real-world communities. Learn more about us at: www.lightship.com.