Aaron Kissel is POLITICO’s Vice President and General Manager of Product. He has a wealth of experience in product, sales, and general management, including over 20 years of experience in operating content, data, software and consulting businesses. He was most recently the Chief Commercial Officer at Enigma Technologies in New York, where he helped the management team raise $90 M for series C funding while implementing new product development processes and doubled the firm’s new sales pipeline. Previously, Aaron held multiple executive leadership roles at CEB (now Gartner). Aaron sat on the executive committees of both of CEB’s primary business units and manages teams in over ten countries, was the head of CEB’s Human Resources and Financial Services Practices. Additionally, Aaron has had leadership roles focused on corporate strategy and product development that supported the firm’s growth run from $25 M in 1997 when he joined to over $950 M in annual revenues in 2015. Aaron has BS from Cornell’s School of Industrial & Labor Relations. Aaron and his wife Meg live in Washington, DC with their three children. Aaron’s roots in Upstate New York are evident in his overly-eager commitment to Syracuse University Basketball.

Dari oversees new revenue streams and markets at POLITICO including enterprise partnerships and the Agency IQ and E&E News commercial teams. Before returning to the U.S. in 2020 she spent 5 years in Brussels with POLITICO Europe, first launching POLITICO Pro’s sales operations and then as Chief Revenue Officer overseeing advertising, events and subscription revenue. From 2013 to 2015, Dari led POLITICO Pro’s account management team in Washington, D.C.
Prior to POLITICO, she worked in sales and management roles for technology companies, including TomTom where she was responsible for licensing digital map content, and Partsearch Technologies and Bid4Assets.
A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Dari graduated with honors with a B.A. in psychology from the University of Maryland. She lives in Tenleytown with her husband, son, menagerie of pets and enjoys traveling, hiking, trying out new food and solving crossword puzzles in her spare time.

Alexander Gaffney is the Senior Director of Research at POLITICO’s AgencyIQ, where he leads the team’s research and analysis of life sciences regulatory issues affecting the Food and Drug Administration. Alexander previously worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he led analysis of life sciences regulatory issues for the firm’s prestigious Health Research Institute. Before joining PwC, he was the Manager of Regulatory Intelligence at the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS), where he also was Managing Editor of the company’s flagship publication, Regulatory Focus. Alexander has had his Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) in US regulation since 2013, and will complete his master’s degree in regulatory science at the University of Maryland in 2020. He has a degree in Political Science from Providence College. He currently lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife and two dogs.

Gaurav Agrawal is POLITICO’s lead Product Manager for AgencyIQ. He has a diverse professional background with experience in product management, business strategy/operations, and litigation. Gaurav received his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis in 2018, and since then has led new product development/launch in multiple industries. Previously, Gaurav was a practicing lawyer in New Delhi (India), in the areas of international arbitration, business advisory, and public policy. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in computer engineering.

Gaurav lives in the DC area. He grew up in India, and moved to the US in 2016. So far, he has lived in three countries on three continents.

Colleen Connolly is POLITICO’s Commercial Director, New Products, where she is responsible for the development of the AgencyIQ membership base. Previously, Colleen managed the new business teams on both POLITICO Pro and POLITICO Audience Solutions. Earlier in her career she worked at the Advisory Board Company providing hospitals and health systems with access to research and best practices. She completed her MBA at the University of Baltimore in 2013 and holds a B.S. in Merchandising Management from Virginia Tech. She is a Washington, D.C. native who, when not working or traveling the world, can be found doing live storytelling at local comedy clubs.

Laura DiAngelo is a Senior Research Manager on the AgencyIQ team. She contributes to the research and development of content for Agency IQ. Before joining POLITICO, Laura consulted on policy and regulatory issues for life sciences and health plan clients with Avalere Health, and managed content for the Avalere Policy and State Reform 360® business intelligence research products. She holds a MPH in health care policy from the George Washington University’s Milken School of Public Health, as well as a BA from Binghamton University. Laura lives in Washington DC, and enjoys the work of the Washington National Opera and the Washington Capitals.

Kedest Tadesse is a Senior Research Manager and contributes to the research and development of content for AgencyIQ. Prior to joining AgencyIQ, Kedest’s worked on issues related to the development, regulation, and litigation of foods, drugs, and medical devices. She coordinated and compiled regulatory submissions to the FDA. Kedest also provided support in responding to various legislative challenges to consumer and industrial products. Kedest received a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from Jacobs University (Bremen, Germany) and a M.S. in Biotechnology from Georgetown University (Washington, DC). Kedest also holds a Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) in US regulation.

Kirsten Messmer, PhD, RAC is a Senior Research Analyst and contributes to the research and development of content for Agency IQ. Prior to joining Agency IQ, she was a Principal Regulatory Affairs Specialist at PPD providing global regulatory intelligence to support efficient, compliant and successful clinical research and drug development for biopharmaceuticals and advanced therapies. Kirsten received her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Sheffield (Sheffield, UK) and a Biology Diplom from the Eberhard-Karls University (Tübingen, Germany). Kirsten also holds a Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) in US regulation.

Lily Rosenfield is a Research Analyst for AgencyIQ focused on evaluating qualitative and quantitative data to drive key insights for clients. Prior to joining AgencyIQ, Lily worked as a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, and as a researcher for the Advisory Board Company (now part of Optum). Her expertise spans multiple areas of health policy, and she has worked closely with healthcare providers, life sciences companies, and government agencies. She received her B.A. in Environmental Science from George Washington University in D.C., where she still resides today.

Joshua Sztorc is an Accounts Director on the AgencyIQ team where he is responsible for membership development. Joshua joins the AgencyIQ team from POLITICO Pro where he worked on the new business team, managing the government portfolio. Prior to POLITICO, Joshua spent 7 years working in government for Congressman Ted Deutch at both the state level in the Florida Senate and on Capitol Hill. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration from the University of Florida. Joshua is a Florida native and a proud Florida Gator who has called DC home for the past 10 years.

Blake Loftin is a Business Development Specialist with POLITICO’s AgencyIQ, partnering with regulatory professionals to bring the latest updates and analysis coming from the FDA. Blake is a graduate from the Gatton College of Business at the University of Kentucky. With experience in account management, sales strategy, and analytics, client needs are his top priority. Blake is a Chicago native and fan of the Cubs, Bulls, and Bears.