Parekh, Jai

Class of '08
Brar-Parekh Eye Associates & Star-x Clinical Research, Managing Partner & President

Jai G. Parekh, MD, MBA, is a 2008 graduate of Fuqua's Weekend Executive MBA/HSM program. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist/corneal transplant surgeon practicing in the New Jersey/New York area. He is a managing partner at Brar-Parekh Eye Associates, a 40-year-old clinical practice, and Co-Founder/President of the newly formed Star-x Clinical Research LLC, a research think tank. Jai is also Chief of Cornea & Medical Director of the Research Institute at St. Joseph's Regional HealthCare System in New Jersey, where he was recently chosen to serve on the Hospital's Board of Trustees. He is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, a world-renowned eye hospital, where he did his cornea and refractive surgery fellowship several years ago. In Boston, Jai completed medical school and training in both internal medicine and ophthalmology where he served as chief resident in both specialties. He has been privileged to train at many hospitals affiliated with several medical schools including Boston, Brown, Tufts, and Harvard Universities. Jai is well-published and lectures at various national and international meetings; he is a key opinion leader within the pharmaceutical industry as well. In fact, he was recently named the only ophthalmologist in the country to serve on the prestigious Society of Academic Medicine Board. Jai's interests include ocular surface diseases, entrepreneurship, practice/disease management, charitable healthcare, and philanthropy. Jai resides in New Jersey with his wife of 16 years and three children.

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Peruzzi, John

Class of '88
Citigroup, Managing Director, Global Head of Credit Operations

John Peruzzi is head of Credit Opportunities, a $1 billion investment group within Citi.  Mr. Peruzzi's 25-year career in finance includes extensive experience in leveraged finance, private equity and mezzanine investments. Mr. Peruzzi has been involved in several landmark transactions including the leverage buyouts of HCA, Inc. and Burger King. Prior to Citi, Mr. Peruzzi was a member of Chase Manhattan's Merchant Banking Group and a partner with Vaxa Capital. Mr. Peruzzi has served on eight corporate boards, including Iron Mountain Information Systems (NASDAQ). John is a Fuqua Scholar and recipient of Fuqua's Xerox scholarship and Fuqua Fellowship. John resides in Greenwich, CT, with his wife, Hillary (Fuqua '89), and two children.

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Popper, Jeff

Class of '93
Hasbro Inc., VP of Marketing, Global Brand Strategy & Marketing

Jeff Popper is a Vice President of Global Brand Strategy & Marketing at Hasbro, Inc. He has been at Hasbro since 2001, leading beloved toy brands including Star Wars, Nerf and Play-Doh. From 2006-2008, he worked in International Marketing, heading up Preschool and Girls marketing with responsibility for all business outside North America. He is currently leading the Playskool business.

Prior to joining Hasbro, Jeff spent nearly seven years at household products company Reckitt Benckiser, holding positions of increasing responsibility in marketing and new product development on such familiar brands as Lysol and Resolve.

In addition to the Duke MBA, Jeff holds a BA in Economics from Vassar College. He resides in Medfield, MA, with his wife of 17 years, Alyson, and two young sons. Outside of work, he enjoys running, coaching youth sports, and is a wine enthusiast.

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