Management Biographies
Christopher McClure, President and CEO. In addition to serving as President and CEO, Mr. McClure serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Westport Capital Markets, LLC in 2001, Mr. McClure was a First Vice President with Prudential Securities from 1997 to 2001. He has also held Financial Consultant positions with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith and Shearson Lehman Brothers. Mr. McClure began his investment career in 1987 with U.S. Trust Co. He graduated from Providence College with a BS degree in finance. Mr. McClure holds his Series, 7, 24, 27, 53, 63 and 65 licenses. He also holds licenses in Life & Health Insurance.
George B. Zavoico, Ph.D. Dr. Zavoico joined Westport Capital Markets, LLC in 2009 where he serves as Equity Research Analyst for Life Sciences. His specific focus is on biotechnology, specialty pharmaceutical, and molecular diagnostics companies. He held the same position at Cantor Fitzgerald LP, beginning in 2005. Prior to Cantor Fitzgerald, Dr. Zavoico served as President of Cronamere Consulting Group, LLC, an independent biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry consulting company that he established in 1997. Dr. Zavoico has served as Research Program Director at both Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and at T Cell Sciences, Inc. He also held the position of Senior Research Scientist in the Cardiovascular Biochemistry division of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Dr. Zavoico received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from St. Lawrence University and a doctorate degree in physiology from the University of Virginia. He held post-doctoral positions at the University of Connecticut Health Center and Brigham & Women’s Hospital (Harvard University).
Jonathan O’Herron, Jr., Managing Director. Mr. O'Herron is also the Founder of Westport Capital Markets, LLC, having started the company in 1996. His current focus is equity sales where he supervises the preparation and distribution of the firm's life sciences research product. Prior to forming Westport Capital Markets he was a Vice President with Smith Barney, Inc. Mr. O'Herron began his investment management career in 1983 with Shearson, Inc. He graduated from Williams College with a BA degree in economics. He also earned an MBA in finance from Fordham University.
Steven J. Knapp, Managing Director. Mr. Knapp joined Westport Capital Markets, LLC in 2003 as a Managing Director serving primarily in the area of portfolio management. Prior to 2003, he operated Simba Management Group an investment research and management company that he founded in 2001. He began his investment management career in 1982 with The Hall Management Group, an independent investment research and management unit of Shearson, Inc. He holds a BS degree from the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University.
Ron Jaeger, Managing Director. Prior to joining Westport Capital Markets, LLC in 2003, Ron was an Assistant Vice President with Prudential Securities. Ron has also held positions at Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, and J.P. Morgan & Company where he started his investment career in 1988. He graduated from Bentley College with a BS degree in finance.
Marisa Maher, Managing Director. Ms. Maher co-founded Westport Capital Markets, LLC in 1996 and serves as Chief Administrative Officer. Ms. Maher began her investment career in 1982 with Dean Witter Reynolds. Prior to that, Ms. Maher served four years in the United States Navy.