The San Diego Business Journal has named Beth Hougen, executive vice president and chief financial officer, its 2026 CFO of the Year. The annual award recognizes San Diego financial leaders whose expertise, strategic thinking and operational impact help drive organizational success.
Beth’s recognition reflects more than 25 years of leadership at Ionis. As a member of the executive leadership team, she has helped guide the company’s transformation from an organization focused primarily on research and early development into a fully integrated commercial-stage biotech.
Under Beth’s financial leadership, Ionis has developed a more diverse revenue base that includes product sales from independently launched medicines, royalties from partnered products and revenue from collaborations. Her disciplined approach to capital planning and resource allocation has supported Ionis’ independent launches, late-stage clinical programs and continued investment in its science.
Beth joined Ionis in May 2000 as vice president of finance. She became chief accounting officer in 2007 and was named CFO in 2013. Today, she leads Ionis’ finance, accounting, information technology, corporate affairs and investor relations functions.
Previously recognized as a San Diego Business Journal CFO of the Year in 2018, Beth’s latest honor reflects her continued contributions to Ionis’ growth and San Diego’s life sciences community.
Read Beth’s full feature in the San Diego Business Journal.