Keith Kato, Senior Director of Operations at Atara Biotherapeutics, is responsible for creating the Operational Excellence program for Technical Operations and implementing it throughout the organization.

He is the architect of the Integrated Management System framework that has been implemented in multiple sites in various industries that have generated millions of dollars of cost savings and value creation through continuous improvement.

In his career, Keith has over 20 years of operations, supply chain and continuous improvement experience across industries including biotech and pharmaceutical, aerospace, and consumer goods. During his career he has been recognized with two Amgen Excellence in Operations Awards. He has also been integral member of the Site Leadership Team awarded Pentair’s Plant of the Year.

Keith graduated with a MBA from the University of Southern California and a BA in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. He enjoys sports, travel, reading, and craft beer.