BrightSpec Names Rick Gordon as CEO

New leadership with a proven track record in life sciences will drive commercialization of spectraMRR, the first molecular rotational resonance platform in over 50 years

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BrightSpec, the leader in molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectroscopy, today announced the appointment of Rick Gordon as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gordon joins BrightSpec after successfully growing Halo Labs from the first product revenues through multiple funding rounds to its acquisition by Waters Corporation in May 2025. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the scientific tools industry, at companies including Unchained Labs, Forte’Bio, and Molecular Devices, with a proven track record of scaling companies and disrupting established markets.

“One of the most motivating parts of my career has always been figuring out what customers need and getting solutions into their hands,” said Mr. Gordon. “At BrightSpec, we are commercializing a technology that has existed for many years but has never been available as an off-the-shelf solution. BrightSpec is applying MRR in markets where it has not previously been used. I’m excited by the opportunity to work alongside this team to translate groundbreaking science into real-world impact through novel products.”

BrightSpec launched the world’s first molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectroscopy platform in more than 50 years. The company’s flagship product, spectraMRR, integrates computational chemistry and lab analytics to deliver precise, fast, and scalable molecular structure information. The spectraMRR platform is used in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food, and environmental testing to confirm molecular structures, identify residual contaminants, and distinguish between isomers, a capability that is crucial for drug safety and product quality. Mr. Gordon will now lead BrightSpec into its next chapter of global commercialization and product excellence.

“Rick brings exceptional experience in the scientific tools industry, which gives him a unique perspective on what makes BrightSpec truly special,” said Jenny Rooke, Ph.D., Managing Director and Founder of Genoa Ventures, which invested in BrightSpec and was instrumental in the Board’s CEO search. “He recognizes, as we do, that BrightSpec’s capabilities are unmatched and open the door to entirely new markets. His vision for the company’s future is fully aligned with why Genoa invested from the beginning. Rick has a proven track record of guiding companies at this stage — whether scaling through fundraising or building strategic partnerships — and we are confident he will do the same here.”

To learn more about BrightSpec and the spectraMRR platform, please visit www.brightspec.com.

About BrightSpec

BrightSpec is the leading life science tools company commercializing instruments that harness the power of molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectroscopy. MRR is an innovative approach to rapidly and definitively characterize the unique three-dimensional structure of small molecules, including all forms of structural and spatial isomers. BrightSpec is developing a vertically integrated platform which includes quantum simulation, rotational spectrometers, data analysis tools and automation with the goal of bringing this technology to the forefront of the applied sciences including the pharmaceutical, chemical and consumer goods industries.