Appointed by Governor Henry McMaster in February 2025 as chair of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) Board of Trustees, Mr. Kirkland now serves as Interim President and CEO, maintaining an active role in guiding the SCRA board’s work and advancing the organization’s strategic vision.
Mr. Kirkland previously served as the Managing Partner at 1818 Consulting Group, a global consulting firm that provides investor relations, government relations, business strategy, channels development, and leadership services. The firm focuses on key areas, including Academia, Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Government, and AI Innovative Solutions. An accomplished entrepreneur, Mr. Kirkland brings a wealth of knowledge, leveraging his extensive business experience.
Before founding 1818 Consulting Group, Mr. Kirkland served as the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Engagement at the University of South Carolina. His office was responsible for fostering statewide economic growth through the increased commercialization of innovative research, connecting new and existing businesses with university resources, and creating a thriving entrepreneurial environment for students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, his office functioned as the single point of contact for the public seeking to partner with the university. While leading the Office of Economic Engagement, Mr. Kirkland also served as the Chairman of the Board for the USC-Columbia Technology Incubator.
Before his executive leadership role at USC, Mr. Kirkland co-founded and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Collexis Holdings, Inc., where he successfully managed the sale of the company and its subsidiaries in June 2010. During his tenure at Collexis, he raised over $35 million in private funds from global investors. Additionally, Mr. Kirkland spent two decades in global senior leadership positions at both IBM and Pfizer. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and also served in the United States Coast Guard.