Solving problems and building partnerships: a conversation with Suvoda Chief Commercial Officer, Steve Geffon

Author: Elena Filimonova, Chief Marketing Officer

Snapshot: 

• Commercial teams solve problems: Using domain expertise to connect clients with the right solutions can help bring critical medicines to market.  
• Strong relationships drive lasting value: Customers benefit from consistent delivery and trusted partnerships that thrive long term.
• Growth doesn't mean sacrificing quality: Merging Greenphire and Suvoda scales innovation while preserving the service quality and flexibility clients rely on.   
   

After the merger of Suvoda and Greenphire, I sat down with Chief Commercial Officer, Steve Geffon, to hear his perspectives on his motivations to work in clinical trials, how Suvoda builds trusted partnerships, and his views on the road ahead for the company. 

What motivates you to work in clinical trials? 

Steve Geffon: I have a background in science and had aspirations to become a physician before realizing that wasn't the right path for me. I've always been interested in science and technology, which led me to the clinical trial space in 2004 after beginning my career at GlaxoSmithKline.

I enjoy solving problems, and I think it's important to spend your career doing something that has a positive impact on people. Many of us have had someone in our family affected by ailments that are treated by advancements in medicines, and so it’s fulfilling to be able to help bring drugs like that to market. These past 20 years of my career have been exceptionally rewarding. 
 

How do your commercial teams help fulfill Suvoda's core purpose of helping to advance human health? 

SG: I think the commercial teams play a key role in supporting our larger purpose. We're not just about sales—we're solving problems with and for our customers. To do so well, we need to listen deeply to our customers to understand their goals and learn their pain points, and then we address those pain points with the right solutions. I think we have the best jobs. We are continually learning from our customers, all while helping to advance human health.
 

How do you view customer relationships over the long term? 

SG: Relationships are built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect.  When we deliver consistently and do what we promise, we create great working relationships.

Many times, we are partnering with our customers during a critical period leading up to the launch of a program, and they rely on us for timely feedback and consultation as domain experts. Ultimately, people buy from people who understand their needs, not from companies or based on price alone.

If you do this job well, you can reach a point where you maintain long-term business relationships where you look forward to seeing each other at the next conference or opportunity. I’ve been fortunate to work with many great people over the past 20 years and support them throughout their career journeys.
 

What message would you like to share with customers as Suvoda and Greenphire merge together? 

SG: The most important thing to know is that we have an experienced team who prioritizes the quality delivery of our solutions. Customers can expect the same consistency, commitment, and flexibility they’ve always received from us. As we grow, we’re focused on being innovative, but not at the expense of what makes us personal and responsive. Change, when done intentionally, is a good thing.

For us, growth means solving more problems, delivering faster, and expanding what our technology can do, while keeping what works—the personal touch, the adaptability, and the deep collaboration that our customers value. Our goal is to bring the best of both organizations together: more investment, faster problem-solving, and new AI-enabled capabilities, while preserving the human element that makes working with us unique.

What differentiates the combined organization in the marketplace? 

SG: I think what’s truly unique is how complementary our strengths are. Suvoda has been focused on eClinical software technology that empowers sponsors through flexibility, analytics, and visibility, while Greenphire has been focused on improving access and convenience for patients and sites through financial and travel software solutions. Together, we now touch every stakeholder in a clinical trial: sponsors, sites, CRO partners, and patients. Add to that Suvoda’s global reach and diverse perspective, and we have the scale and insight to deliver real value across the ecosystem, while still being the right size to stay nimble and connected to our customers.

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of our commercial organization?

SG: I’m excited about our investment in AI and how that innovation will be realized by our customers and patients in the future. A few years from now, I see us as the trusted partner from early- to late-phase development—helping sponsors bring drugs to market faster, more efficiently, and with less burden on patients.

Our commercial team plays a key role in that: we’re the voice of the customer inside the company, translating what we hear every day into better products, services, and processes. As we grow, we’ll continue to feed that insight back into the organization so we can keep improving how we deliver and make an even bigger impact on the industry.

Authors

EBOOK