Pharmaceutical POOL
Andy AJELLO
Novo Nordisk Appoints Diabetes Sales VP Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company focusing on diabetes care, has promoted Andy Ajello to VP for national diabetes sales, managed care, and government accounts. Previously, Mr. Ajello was associate VP of diabetes sales for the eastern area, where he led more than 600 sales representatives. In his eight years with Novo Nordisk, Mr. Ajello has been recognized and awarded for achievements in sales leadership, training, and marketing. Lamberto ANDREOTTI Chief Operating Officer Elevated to President at Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb has promoted Chief Operating Officer Lamberto Andreotti to the additional role of president. Mr. Andreotti, who previously served as executive VP and chief operating officer, continues to have leadership responsibility for global pharmaceuticals, technical operations, and global marketing, while adding oversight of information management worldwide. Alex AZAR Jack BAILEY Lilly Announces Leadership Shifts Alex Azar has been promoted to VP of business-to-business and Puerto Rico, from his previous role as senior VP of corporate affairs and communications. Mr. Azar is responsible for overseeing Lilly’s public payer, managed care, and wholesaler operations in the United States, as well as its sales and marketing operations in Puerto Rico. Before joining Lilly in 2007, Mr. Azar served as the deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, where he worked closely with Secretary Mike Leavitt and served for almost two years as the chief operating officer of the largest civilian department in the federal government. Mr. Azar is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Yale Law School. In a related move, Jack Bailey, U.S. senior VP of account-based markets at Lilly, has broadened his leadership responsibilities to include oversight of the U.S. diabetes business unit, in addition to his current responsibilities for Lilly USA’s oncology and cardiovascular teams, as well as the Lilly Hospital Group. Mr. Bailey’s new role creates therapeutic alignment across the organization, from drug discovery to new product development to commercialization. During his 18-year tenure at Lilly, Mr. Bailey has held positions in sales and marketing and business development, including general manager for Lilly’s affiliate in South Africa and director of regional sales operations across sub-Saharan Africa. He holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina. Seigo KASHII Astellas US Announces New CEO Astellas Pharma US, the North American subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., has promoted Seigo Kashii to president and CEO. Mr. Kashii succeeds Yoshihiko Hatanaka, who has been named chief strategy officer and chief financial officer at Astellas Pharma Inc. in Tokyo. During his 31-year career with Astellas, Mr. Kashii has held positions in legal affairs, corporate planning and strategy, and sales. Most recently, he served as the corporate executive and VP of legal for Astellas Pharma Inc. He holds a law degree from the University of Kobe. Biopharmaceutical POOL Dr. Elkan GAMZU Epix Pharmaceuticals Names CEO Epix Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform, has appointed Elkan Gamzu, Ph.D., as president and CEO. Dr. Gamzu had served Epix as interim CEO since July 2008. Dr. Gamzu has more than 35 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry experience and has held a number of senior executive positions in those industries, including CEO of Pharmos and of Cambridge Neuroscience. He received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in experimental and physiological psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Emerging POOL Dr. Peter NOYMER Alexza Pharmaceuticals Names R&D VP Alexza Pharmaceuticals has promoted Peter Noymer, Ph.D., to VP, product research and development, from senior director, product research and development. Dr. Noymer is responsible for oversight of device engineering, product development, and pharmaceutical development for Alexza’s technology programs. He received an M.S. and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alexza Pharmaceuticals is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, proprietary products for the treatment of acute and intermittent conditions. Agency POOL Chris ANDREWS CommonHealth Promotes Executive to Information Chief Healthcare communications network CommonHealth, a WPP company, has named Chris Andrews chief information officer. Mr. Andrews was previously VP, business solutions and networking, for CommonHealth. He holds a master’s in management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Rich CAMPBELL Paul TURSKY Holly WRIGHT Promotions Unveiled at AbelsonTaylor Independent healthcare advertising agency AbelsonTaylor has announced three promotions on its account team. Rich Campbell has been promoted to account supervisor from senior account executive and plays a lead role in the launch of a new diabetes product. Paul Tursky and Holly Wright have both been promoted to senior account supervisor from account supervisor. Mr. Tursky provides strategic and tactical counsel for a portfolio of diabetes products, while Ms. Wright leads several DTC/DTP brands in oncology and immunology. Mr. Tursky holds an MBA from DePaul University. Dr. Elizabeth COLSTON Stephanie FITCHETTE Michael FORTE Alison JORDAN-FOSTER CXHC Expands Staff to Support Growth Connexion Healthcare (CXHC), a group of independent, complementary medical communications companies, has announced a number of appointments. Elizabeth Colston, M.D., Ph.D., has joined CXHC as medical director, with responsibility for publication planning and other client projects. Dr. Colston founded her own biomedical communications company, EMC Biomedical Communications. CXHC has named Stephanie Fitchette editorial director, overseeing all aspects of editorial and medical writing responsibilities and supervising staff in both areas. Ms. Fitchette has more than 15 years of editorial experience, most recently as a copy chief at Slack. Michael Forte has joined CXHC as chief operations officer with responsibility for further development and growth of the organization, including its Clinical Connexion and Publication Connexion business units, as well as initiation of several new business ventures. Mr. Forte has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical clinical and commercial development experience, most recently as executive director of the Flagship Global Health Foundation. Alison Jordan-Foster has been appointed director of new business development. Ms. Jordan-Foster comes to CXHC with more than 15 years of pharmaceutical sales/marketing experience on both the agency and the industry sides of the business. Most recently, she served as a pharmaceutical consultant for New Dawn Medical Moderators and Inventive Health. Joe DALEY GSW Worldwide Names Group President Global healthcare advertising agency GSW Worldwide, an inVentiv Health company, has promoted Joe Daley to group president, GSW Worldwide, U.S. operations, from his previous role as president of the agency’s Columbus, Ohio, headquarters. Mr. Daley has been with inVentiv Communications (then inChord Communications) since 1998. Jin Li FRICK New Managing Director at Core-Create Global healthcare communications company Core-Create has named Jin Li Frick managing director, with responsibility for integrating the client marketing and communications efforts. Ms. Frick also is charged with shaping and implementing the agency’s strategy, managing its infrastructure, and developing new business opportunities and resources. Ms. Frick joins Core-Create from Hill & Knowlton, where she served as senior VP of the health and pharmaceutical division and chief operating officer of worldwide healthcare. She received an MBA from Durham Business School in Durham, United Kingdom. Scott HOFFMAN Andrew LOHMAN Dennis MCCORMACK Blue Diesel Expands Staff Interactive communications company Blue Diesel, an inVentiv Health agency, has made a number of additions to its offices in Columbus, Ohio, and Newtown, Pa. Scott Hoffman joins the Columbus office as senior medical copywriter. Before joining Blue Diesel, Mr. Hoffman worked for Xavier University as associate editor. Andrew Lohman has been named associate creative director for the Columbus office. Previously, Mr. Lohman served as interactive marketing manager for Acushnet Company. At the Newtown office, Dennis McCormack has been named director, business development. Mr. McCormack was most recently product manager for Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Todd PARKER MedThink Adds Scientific Director Full-service healthcare communications agency MedThink Communications has appointed Todd Parker, Ph.D., to its team of scientific directors, with responsibility for supporting its rapidly expanding medical communications services. Dr. Parker was previously scientific director for ProEd Communications. He received a Ph.D. in molecular biology, with an emphasis on immunology, from Mississippi State University. Amanda SELLERS Spectrum Science Promotes VP Health science communications practice Spectrum Science Communications has promoted Amanda Sellers to VP. Ms. Sellers, who has been with Spectrum Science since 2004, continues to lead accounts in the areas of women’s health, pain management, and oncology while playing a larger role in the firm’s business development and staff development efforts. Consulting POOL Dr. Andrew VON ESCHENBACH Greenleaf Health Taps Former FDA Commissioner as Senior Advisor Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., has joined Greenleaf Health as senior advisor. Greenleaf Health is a full-service regulatory consulting firm that provides strategic guidance to companies regulated by the FDA and companies developing innovative solutions to pressing public health problems around the globe. Dr. von Eschenbach entered government service following a distinguished 30-year career as a physician, surgeon, oncologist, medical educator, and hospital executive. He is the only person to have served both as FDA commissioner and as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. von Eschenbach received a medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. Media POOL Susanna GUZMAN Heather Boyle TOWNSEND Changes at AAFP’s Online Publishing Division The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has announced one promotion and one addition to its Online and Custom Publishing Division. AAFP has promoted Susanna Guzman to director of the division, from her previous role as assistant director. Ms. Guzman is responsible for the development of educational tools and materials to meet the needs of family physicians and their patients. In other moves, AAFP has named Heather Boyle Townsend director of online development and partnerships in the Online and Custom Publishing Division. She was most recently director of patient education for GetWellNetwork. Medical Education POOL Cherie HICKS CMR Promotes Chief Operating Officer to CEO CMR Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides nonbranded education for pharmaceutical professionals, has promoted Chief Operating Officer Cherie Hicks to president and CEO. Ms. Hicks succeeds James Dutton, who remains president emeritus. Ms. Hicks oversees all operations and efforts to bring high-quality continuing education, professional development, and certification to the healthcare industry. As lead strategist, she drives initiatives around innovation and professional development. Service POOL Cory DAVIS Princeton Brand Econometrics Elevates Operating Chief to CEO Privately held marketing engineering firm Princeton Brand Econometrics (PBE) has promoted Chief Operating Officer Cory Davis to president and CEO. Mr. Davis joined PBE in 2004 as a senior analyst and was promoted in May 2008 to chief operating officer from VP of forecasting operations. Brian DEPPEN Curt STAAB New Directors Join TGaS Advisors TGaS Advisors, a benchmarking company focused on pharmaceutical commercial organizations, has added two directors. Brian Deppen has been named a director and management advisor for the Managed Markets Practice to help expand services in that division. Mr. Deppen previously spent 13 years at AstraZeneca, most recently in managed markets training. He received an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Curt Staab has been appointed director and management advisor within the sales advisory practice. Mr. Staab joins TGaS after 18 years at Merck, where he was senior director, sales information and incentive compensation. He received an MBA from Southern Methodist University. F Send your personnel announcements to [email protected]. Biotech POOL Dr. Rustum BOYCE Dr. Bin LU Dr. William (Bill) WAINWRIGHT Vivaldi Strengthens R&D Team Vivaldi Biosciences, a biotechnology company focused on the development of vaccines for influenza, has announced a number of appointments to its research and development staff. Vivaldi has named Rustum Boyce, Ph.D., as director of small molecule drug discovery, with responsibility for the company’s program to identify and optimize novel small molecules that target influenza virus nonstructural protein 1 as potential broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. Dr. Boyce was most recently director of medicinal chemistry for MerLion Pharmaceuticals. Bin Lu, Ph.D., has joined Vivaldi as director of virology, responsible for leading R&D activities for Vivaldi’s live attenuated influenza vaccine programs, including further studies to evaluate the vaccine candidates in animal models and establish preclinical safety in support of Vivaldi’s planned IND. Dr. Lu comes to Vivaldi after eight years at MedImmune, where he contributed significantly to advances in genetic modification, development, and propagation of live attenuated influenza vaccine strains for seasonal and pandemic flu. Vivaldi has appointed William (Bill) Wainwright, Ph.D., as VP, vaccine development. In this newly created position, Dr. Wainwright is responsible for the development of Vivaldi’s live attenuated vaccine candidates from preclinical through Phase I/II clinical trials, as well as the related manufacturing processes and quality control procedures. Before joining Vivaldi, Dr. Wainwright was a vaccine industry consultant, providing technical expertise and registration strategies for development, commercial manufacturing, and quality control testing of viral vaccines. He received an M.S. in virology and a Ph.D. in immunology and virology from West Virginia University Medical School. Michael LYTTON Biogen Idec Hires Business Development VP Biotechnology firm Biogen Idec has named Michael Lytton as executive VP, business and corporate development. Mr. Lytton previously served as a general partner at Oxford Bioscience Partners, a venture capital firm that provides equity financing and general management assistance to emerging life-sciences companies. Mr. Lytton received an M.Sc. in epidemiology and medical statistics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Dr. Ulrik NIELSEN Edward (Tad) STEWART Executive Promotions at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, a privately held biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatments for cancer and autoimmune disease, has announced two promotions among its executive team. Ulrik Nielsen, Ph.D., has been promoted to senior VP and chief scientific officer. Dr. Nielsen, a founder of Merrimack, continues to be responsible for the strategic direction of the company’s research, early-stage pipeline products, and new project ideas, as well as discovering and encouraging innovative techniques of integrating the network biology platform into therapeutic development from discovery stage through to the clinic. Dr. Nielsen received his master’s degree in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Copenhagen. Edward (Tad Stewart has been elevated to senior VP of business development. Mr. Stewart, who has been with Merrimack since 2001, continues to be responsible for the business development functions, including corporate partnering, licensing, intellectual property management, and commercialization strategy. He received an MBA from the Johnson School at Cornell University. Biopharmaceutical POOL Dr. Henry FUCHS New Medical Chief at BioMarin Pharmaceutical BioMarin Pharmaceutical, a company that develops and commercializes innovative biopharmaceuticals for serious diseases and medical conditions, has appointed Henry Fuchs, M.D., senior VP and chief medical officer. Dr. Fuchs most recently served as executive VP and chief medical officer of Onyx Pharmaceuticals. He received an M.D. from George Washington University. Dr. Brian HAMILTON DOR BioPharma Taps Steroids Expert as CMO DOR BioPharma has appointed Brian Hamilton, M.D., Ph.D., senior VP and chief medical officer. DOR is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing products to treat life-threatening side effects of cancer treatments and serious gastrointestinal diseases, as well as vaccines for certain bioterrorism agents. Dr. Hamilton is an expert in both the global development of topically active steroids, as well as in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), spending more than 25 years in both academia and industry, most notably at Wyeth and Astra. In this new role, he is responsible for leading DOR’s clinical affairs, with an emphasis on the execution of its confirmatory Phase III clinical trial of orBec in the treatment of acute gastrointestinal GVHD. Dr. Hamilton earned an M.D. and a Ph.D. in transplantation immunology at the University of Washington and trained in pediatrics, allergy/immunology, and oncology. Dr. Marcel ROZENCWEIG Sopherion Therapeutics Names Clinical Affairs VP Sopherion Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of anticancer therapies, has named Marcel Rozencweig, M.D., as senior executive VP for clinical affairs. Dr. Rozencweig was previously a key clinical development consultant to Sopherion and a member of the company’s protocol development team for the breast cancer therapeutic Myocet. He is an adjunct associate professor of medicine at New York University. Dr. John SCARLETT Industry Veteran Joins Proteolix as Chief Executive Proteolix, a privately held biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel therapeutics that target protein degradation pathways in cancer and autoimmune diseases, has appointed John Scarlett, M.D., president and CEO. Dr. Scarlett succeeds Proteolix founder Susan Molineaux, Ph.D., who remains with the company as chief scientific officer. Dr. Scarlett brings nearly three decades of experience in drug development and commercialization to the role. He most recently served as CEO of Tercica, which he cofounded in 2002. Dr. Scarlett graduated with honors from the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine, training in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and in endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Colorado. Specialty POOL Arthur PRZYBYL Akorn Executive Joins ANI Pharmaceuticals ANI Pharmaceuticals, a private specialty generic pharmaceutical company, has named Arthur Przybyl CEO, succeeding founding CEO Tom Anderson, who has left to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Przybyl’s 25-year career includes management positions in pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Most recently, he was president and CEO of Akorn. Emerging POOL Mark EVASHENK New Clinical VP at AcelRx Pharmaceuticals AcelRx Pharmaceuticals has hired Mark Evashenk as VP, clinical operations. AcelRx is a privately held company that applies its proprietary dosage form and delivery technologies to enhance the safety, therapeutic benefit, and commercial attractiveness of approved pharmaceutical compounds. In his new position, Mr. Evashenk assists in defining developmental strategy, guiding clinical protocol design and study conduct, and managing risk assessment for AcelRx. Mr. Evashenk has more than 25 years of pharmaceutical and device development experience, most recently as Alza’s director of clinical operations. Perry KARSEN Pearl Therapeutics Appoints Chief Executive Pearl Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing products for the treatment of widely prevalent respiratory diseases, has appointed Perry Karsen CEO. Mr. Karsen brings to Pearl more than 25 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, most recently as Celgene’s regional president, Asia/Pacific, and head of worldwide business development. He received a master’s of management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a master’s in teaching of biology from Duke University. Dr. Anatole KLYOSOV Dr. Theodore ZUCCONI Executive Changes at Pro-Pharmaceuticals Anatole Klyosov, Ph.D., D.Sc., a founder of Pro-Pharmaceuticals and co-inventor of its patented carbohydrate polymer technology, has rejoined the company as chief scientist. Dr. Klyosov was previously VP, research and development, for Kadant Composites. He earned an M.S. in enzyme kinetics and a Ph.D. and D.Sc. in physical chemistry from Moscow State University. In other moves, Pro-Pharmaceuticals has named Theodore Zucconi, Ph.D., president and CEO. Dr. Zucconi succeeds David Platt, Ph.D., who has become CEO and chief technology officer of Medi-Pharmaceuticals, a company 10%-owned by Pro-Pharmaceuticals that is focused on developing cardiovascular treatments. Dr. Zucconi had been president of Pro-Pharmaceuticals from October 2007 until the end of 2008. He received a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the State University of New York and a master’s certificate in international management from Thunderbird University. Pro-Pharmaceuticals is a clinical and development stage pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, and commercialization of carbohydrate-based, therapeutic compounds for advanced treatment of cancer, liver, microbial, and inflammatory diseases. Consulting POOL Joe DILLON Campbell Alliance Expands Business Development Practice Joe Dillon has joined the business development practice at Campbell Alliance, a management consulting firm specializing in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Mr. Dillon is working closely with the business development practice to help pharmaceutical and biotech clients address business challenges and develop comprehensive strategies related to in- and out-licensing, opportunity assessment, and overall business development strategy. Mr. Dillon was most recently senior VP and head of corporate development and valuations at The Mattson Jack Group. He holds an MBA from Kansas State University. F