News from AstraZeneca and Roche – People on the move
AstraZeneca has announced a shake-up to its Senior Executive Team, eliminating the roles of President of Research and Development and Executive Vice President, Global Commercial.
This will see Martin Mackay and the Tony Zook, who filled the respective roles, leaving the company at the end of January.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot wished to thank Mackay and Zook “for their contribution and the exemplary leadership they have shown in their time at AstraZeneca.”
Soriot also announced the creation of seven new roles within its executive team focusing on R&D and sales organization.
Roche has appointed John C Reed as Head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED).
Prior to the appointment, Reed was CEO at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla, California and is replacing Mike Burgess in the role based in Basel, Switzerland.
Roche CEO, Severin Schwan said: "We are delighted to welcome John Reed to Roche, who has led one of the world's top laboratory-based medical research institutes. With his broad scientific and medical background he is ideally positioned to drive Roche's strategy of translating a better understanding of disease mechanisms into promising therapeutics."
Schwan continued in thanking Burgess for his interim role, refocusing the pRED organization in the last few months.
Amgen (AMGN) has appointed Robert A. Eckert to its Board of Directors, following the retirement of Kevin W. Sharer.
Eckert leaves his post as CEO at Mattel Inc. and joins the board as an independent director for the biotech company.
Amgen CEO Robert A. Bradway - himself appointed Chairman of the Board -welcomed Eckert saying: “Bob has significant experience and a superb track record of leading global companies during a long and successful career. His contributions to the Board will guide us as we expand our reach to more patients in more markets and continue creating value for our stockholders."
Laizer D. Kornwasser has been named Executive Vice President/Company Group Chairman at Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
Kornwasser was a Senior Executive at Medco Health and will now be responsible for Valeant’s operations in Canada, U.S. Neurology and various other U.S. functions.
Valeant’s Chairman and CEO, J. Michael Pearson, described Kornwasser as “the final complement to our senior management team,” adding that “Laizer's broad health care experience that ranges from running large divisions, overseeing acquisitions and strategy, to understanding the retail and mail channels, will be invaluable.”
Danish biotechnology company Zealand Pharma has appointed Agneta Svedberg as its new Chief Operating Officer.
Zvedberg joins the company with more than 20 years of experience in drug development, previously holding the CEO position at Swedish biotech company, Cantargia AB.
Zealand’s Chairman and CEO David Solomon said he was confident that Zvedberg could steer and structure the expected global launch of Zealand's first drug discovery, Lyxumia, in 2013
Solomon also praised former Senior Vice President and COO John Hyttel who retires after 14 years at the company.
ArmaGen Technologies has announced its appointment of Dr. James Callaway as CEO of the drug delivery firm.
Callaway’s three decades in the industry has seen him work at GSK, Bayer, Elan and most recently at Cebrix Inc., where he held the position of President and CEO.
Dr. William M. Pardridge, ArmaGen’s founder and Chief Scientific Officer says Callaway's "extensive experience working within the realm of CNS disorders at both small biotech companies and major pharmaceutical firms will be invaluable to ArmaGen as the company develops its product pipeline and platform technology.”
Developer of gout therapy KRYSTEXXA Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. has elected Dr. David Meeker onto its Board of Directors replacing Dr. William F. Owen who is relocating to Qatar to serve as CEO of the Sidra Medical and Research Center.
Meeker previously worked at Genzyme in various positions being appointed CEO when the company was acquired by Sanofi in 2011.
Savient’s President and CEO, Lou Ferrari, said Meeker’s “vision and his track record will be extremely important for Savient as we continue to offer an important treatment option for patients suffering from refractory chronic gout and as we prepare for the anticipated approval and launch of KRYSTEXXA in the EU."
