Pharmaceutical POOL
Dr. Roger POMERANTZ
Merck Appoints Head of Infectious Diseases Merck has named Roger Pomerantz, M.D., senior VP of Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) and infectious diseases franchise head. Dr. Pomerantz spent the last five years at Johnson & Johnson, where he most recently served as global head of infectious diseases and president of Peninsula Pharmaceuticals. He received an M.D. from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Biotechnology POOL Stephen DAVIS Ardea Biosciences Names Operating Chief Ardea Biosciences, which is focused on developing therapeutics for the treatment of gout, cancer, and HIV, has named Stephen Davis as executive VP and chief operating officer. Mr. Davis was previously president and CEO of Neurogen. He received a J.D. from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Thomas HOFSTAETTER Dr. Alan SHAW VaxInnate Announces CEO Change VaxInnate, a biotechnology firm pioneering breakthrough technology for developing novel vaccines, has named Thomas Hofstaetter, Ph.D., president and CEO. Dr. Hofstaetter joined VaxInnate earlier this year as chief operating officer. Before that, he was senior VP of corporate business development at Wyeth. He earned an M.S. in biochemistry and a Ph.D. magna cum laude in molecular biology, both from the University of Tuebingen in Germany. As CEO, Dr. Hofstaetter succeeds Alan Shaw, Ph.D., who has become chairman of VaxInnate’s board and assumed the newly created role of chief scientific officer for the company. Dr. Shaw received a Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry from the Medical College of Ohio. Dr. Sven Ante (Bill) LUNDBERG Dr. Karen TUBRIDY Taligen Expands Development Expertise Taligen Therapeutics, a company developing therapies that regulate the complement system to treat inflammatory and immune diseases, has named Sven Ante (Bill) Lundberg, M.D., chief medical officer. Dr. Lundberg has held senior clinical and medical affairs roles in both large pharmaceutical and emerging biopharmaceutical companies. He holds an M.D. from Stanford Medical School. Karen Tubridy, Pharm.D., has joined Taligen as VP, clinical operations and regulatory affairs. Dr. Tubridy was most recently senior director of clinical operations for Biogen Idec’s hemophilia franchise and VP of clinical operations at Syntonix Pharmaceuticals. She received a Pharm.D. from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences. Varun NANDA Former Genentech Executive Joins Dendreon Dendreon, a company targeting cancer through the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutics, has appointed Varun Nanda senior VP of global commercial operations. Mr. Nanda most recently served as senior VP and global head of oncology at Genentech. He received an MBA from Eastern Illinois University. Biopharmaceutical POOL Dr. Robert ARBEIT Dr. Nicola LA MONICA Dr. Timothy SULLIVAN Idera Pharmaceuticals Adds VPs to Development Group Idera Pharmaceuticals has bolstered its development leadership team with the appointment of three VPs. Idera develops drug candidates to treat infectious diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and respiratory diseases. Robert Arbeit, M.D., has joined Idera as VP of clinical development. Dr. Arbeit was most recently VP of clinical development at Paratek Pharmaceuticals. He received an M.D. from Yale University School of Medicine. Idera has named Nicola La Monica, Ph.D., VP of biology. Dr. La Monica was previously director of antiviral research at IRBM, a division of Merck Research Laboratories. He earned a Ph.D. in microbiology from Columbia University. Timothy Sullivan, Ph.D., has been promoted to VP of development programs and alliance management, from VP of development programs. Dr. Robert GOULD Jason RHODES Epizyme Announces Leadership Shifts Epizyme, a company translating key discoveries in the field of epigenetics into novel pharmaceuticals, has appointed Robert Gould, Ph.D., CEO, succeeding Kazumi Shiosaki, Ph.D., who remains a member of the board. Dr. Gould has been a board member for two years and joins the company from the Broad Institute, where he was director of novel therapeutics. He obtained degrees from Spring Arbor College and The University of Iowa. Epizyme also has named Jason Rhodes executive VP and chief business officer. Mr. Rhodes was previously VP, business development at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. He received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. John ORWIN Sylvia WHEELER Affymax Selects President John Orwin has joined Affymax as president and chief operating officer. Affymax is a developer of novel drugs to improve the treatment of serious and often life-threatening conditions. Mr. Orwin was most recently senior VP, BioOncology business unit, for Genentech. He received an MBA from New York University. In other moves, Affymax has promoted Sylvia Wheeler to VP, corporate communications. Ms. Wheeler received an MBA from the University of San Francisco. Drug-Delivery POOL Peter CIANO Tris Pharma Hires Key Executive Tris Pharma, a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops innovative drug delivery technologies, has appointed Peter Ciano VP of corporate development. Mr. Ciano previously worked as a business development consultant for Tris. He is a pharmacist by training and holds an MBA in finance. Device/Diagnostic POOL John BUHLER SenoRx Announces CEO Succession SenoRx has appointed John Buhler CEO following the March 2010 death of Chairman and CEO Lloyd Malchow. Mr. Buhler has served as acting CEO of SenoRx since Mr. Malchow went on medical leave. SenoRx develops, manufactures, and sells minimally invasive medical devices used for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Frank PITZER Roche NimbleGen Appoints CEO Roche NimbleGen, a division of Roche and global provider of microarray tools for genetic discovery and analysis, has appointed Frank Pitzer, Ph.D., CEO. Dr. Pitzer most recently served as head of divisional quality and regulatory affairs for Roche Diagnostics. He earned a Ph.D. in biology from Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany. Emerging POOL Dr. Susan FROSHAUER Mark Leuchtenberger Rib-X Makes Leadership Changes Rib-X Pharmaceuticals has named Susan Froshauer, Ph.D., to the newly created role of chief scientific officer. Dr. Froshauer was previously CEO of Rib-X, a development-stage antibiotics company. Mark Leuchtenberger has been appointed president and CEO of Rib-X. Mr. Leuchtenberger joins the company from Targanta Therapeutics, where he served as president and CEO. He received an MBA from Yale School of Management. Association POOL Dr. Elizabeth BLACKBURN Dr. Judy GARBER AACR Swears In New President Elizabeth Blackburn, Ph.D., has been named president of American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for the 2010-2011 term. Dr. Blackburn is a professor of biology and physiology in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. AACR has elected Judy Garber, M.D., MPH, as president-elect. Dr. Garber is the director of the Cancer Risk and Prevention Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and associate physician of medicine and attending physician of medical service at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. Agency POOL Ben BLOUNT Sara CABIN Bob DEBARTOLO Pete DENSMORE Cori DILLER-DANTE Steve DUMAS Sharlene KING Emily RAY Chad SMITH Brook STENSGAARD Ryan VAN PELT Goble & Associates Makes Staff Changes Healthcare communication agency Goble & Associates (GA) has announced a number of promotions and new hires in response to growing client demand. Ben Blount has joined GA as a senior art director. Mr. Blount has previously worked at Williams-Labadie and Abelson-Taylor. He received an MFA in book and paper arts from Columbia College Chicago. Sara Cabin has been named art director. Ms. Cabin was most recently with Proof, an internal agency at Beam Global Spirits & Wine. Bob DeBartolo has been promoted to VP, integrated strategy, from senior director, integrated strategy. Mr. DeBartolo joined the GA team last year and brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to the company. Pete Densmore has joined GA as an account supervisor. Mr. Densmore has several years of healthcare marketing experience, most recently with Purohit Navigation. Cori Diller-Dante has been promoted to Webmaster and senior developer. Ms. Diller-Dante has been with GA since 2002. Steve Dumas has been promoted to account executive. Mr. Dumas joined GA in 2007 as an account manager. Sharlene King has joined GA as a digital designer. Ms. King was previously a graphic designer at Kaplan Financial. Emily Ray has been elevated to account executive from account manager. Ms. Ray joined GA in 2008. Chad Smith has been promoted to account director. Mr. Smith first joined GA in 2006 as an account supervisor. Brook Stensgaard has joined GA as an account manager from oprah.com, where she was in advertising sales. Ryan Van Pelt has been promoted to senior VP, group account director, from VP, group account director. Mr. Van Pelt has been with GA for eight years as part of the account management and senior management teams. Bridget DEAN Laura DUTTERER Ashley ERGLER Robert HARRISON Glenn KNAPP Edward LEON Michael SZUMERA MedThink Adds to Digital, Account Groups Full-service healthcare communications company MedThink Communications has announced new hires in its digital practice and promotional account services group. MedThink has hired Bridget Dean and Laura Dutterer as account executives. Ms. Dean was most recently an account manager at VML, and Ms. Dutterer joins MedThink from Ulanguzi Creative Strategies, where she was an account executive. In the digital practice, MedThink has named Ashley Ergler digital strategist. Ms. Ergler works closely with MedThink clients to develop integrated programs by aligning digital strategy and tactics with clients’ business objectives. She was previously an account executive for Ulanguzi Creative Strategies. Other additions to the digital practice include Robert Harrison as Web developer and Glenn Knapp as Web designer. Mr. Knapp was previously Web designer with The San Diego Union-Tribune. Edward Leon has joined MedThink as account director, medical communications. Mr. Leon most recently worked as senior program director and VP, client services for S+R Medical Communications. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and is a licensed pharmacist in North Carolina and Michigan. MedThink has appointed Michael Szumera VP, public relations practice lead. Most recently, Mr. Szumera was director, public relations and marketing communications, at Lazar Partners. Rebecca FREDERICK Conectics Appoints President Conectics, a CommonHealth professional media planning and buying unit, has promoted Rebecca Frederick to president from general manager. Ms. Frederick maintains primary responsibility for Conectics and continues to maintain and evolve all of the company’s media planning, buying, and placement and to oversee all client management, new-business initiatives, research, and analytics. James HARMON Former Campbell Alliance Advisor Joins Maxcess James Harmon has been named executive VP, managing director, of Maxcess Managed Markets, a specialty provider of strategic market insight, planning, research, and communications services to the pharmaceutical industry. Maxcess is a Publicis Health Care Communications Group (PHCG) company. Mr. Harmon was most recently an executive advisor with the managed markets practice and the Pharmaceutical Institute of Campbell Alliance. Steven HÉBERT LyonHeart Names Creative Director Healthcare communications company LyonHeart has hired Steven Hébert as executive VP, executive creative director. Mr. Hébert joins LyonHeart from The CementBloc. LyonHeart is part of Diversified Agency Services, the marketing services network of Omnicom Group. Kerry KESSLER HC&B Adds to Account Team Independent agency HC&B Healthcare Communications has hired Kerry Kessler as account supervisor. Ms. Kessler is working on three accounts: Texas Oncology Menninger Clinic, and GeoDigm. She joins HC&B from JWT Advertising, where she was an account supervisor. Amy KLUG Chris STEELE AbelsonTaylor Promotes Senior Executives Independent healthcare advertising agency AbelsonTaylor has promoted Amy Klug and Chris Steele to the role of senior account executive, from account executive. Ms. Klug joined AbelsonTaylor in 2006 and has been responsible for two new product launches in the areas of hypertension and hematology. Mr. Steele is responsible for products in the pain management area. He joined AbelsonTaylor in 2006. Dr. Boris KUSHKULEY CommonHealth Promotes President of Qi Healthcare communications network CommonHealth, a WPP company, has promoted Boris Kushkuley, Ph.D., to president of Qi, its full-service digital group. Dr. Kushkuley was previously Qi’s general manager. Pete PARADOSSI Fleishman-Hillard Selects Healthcare Practice Leader Pete Paradossi has joined public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard, part of Omnicom Group, as a senior VP and healthcare practice leader. Mr. Paradossi most recently was an executive leading corporate and business communications for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s healthcare group. Erinn WHITE HealthSTAR Public Relations Appoints CEO Erinn White has been promoted to president and CEO of HealthSTAR Public Relations (HSPR). HSPR, part of the HealthSTAR Communications network, is a full-service agency. Ms. White joined HSPR in 2003 and most recently served as executive VP and general manager. CRO POOL Terry LADD Dr. Richard MARTIN NexMed Taps VPs for Operating Subsidiaries NexMed, a specialty CRO with a pipeline of products based on the NexACT drug-delivery technology, has expanded the senior management team. Terry Ladd has been named VP of business development for Bio-Quant, NexMed’s discovery preclinical service subsidiary. He received an M.A. from the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, and an MBA in marketing and finance from McGill University. Richard Martin, Ph.D., has been appointed VP of chemistry for NexMed (U.S.A.), with responsibility for leading the development work for the next generation of NexACT technology and NexACT-based products. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Toronto and completed his postdoctoral research at The Scripps Research Institute. Service POOL Carl KUNZ Keith MANGAS Chris ROFIDAL Judy STEIN Qforma Adds Executives Qforma, a healthcare data analytics and predictive modeling company, has appointed Carl Kunz, Keith Mangas, and Chris Rofidal as business development executives. Mr. Kunz most recently was VP of sales operations and strategy at Baxter Healthcare. Mr. Mangas has held multiple sales and marketing positions during his healthcare industry career. Mr. Rofidal most recently has brought his managed markets expertise to such start-up companies as Reliant Pharmaceuticals and GTx. Qforma has appointed Judy Stein director, client services. Ms. Stein’s responsibilities include developing and implementing customized project plans. Ms. Stein most recently was senior manager at GE Healthcare Performance Solutions. Ken MILLER Zitter Group Names Lead for Boston Area The Zitter Group, a managed care consultancy and insights provider for the biopharmaceutical industry, has appointed Ken Miller VP, business development and strategic client lead for all greater Boston area biopharmaceutical clients. Mary SOBIECHOWSKI Kantar Health Appoints Information Chief Kantar Health, a healthcare-focused global consultancy and marketing insights company, has appointed Mary Sobiechowski chief information officer. Ms. Sobiechowski was previously chief information officer and worldwide director of technology for Sudler & Hennessey. Technology POOL Dr. Laurent SCHOCKMEL Cegedim Appoints Chief Strategy Officer Cegedim Dendrite, a provider of CRM solutions, has named Laurent Schockmel chief strategy officer. Mr. Schockmel was previously Cegedim’s chief operating officer of the Americas. He is a doct
r in veterinary medicine and holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School. F Send your personnel announcements to [email protected]. Pharmaceutical POOL Dr. Ludwig HANTSON Former Novartis Executive Joins Baxter International Baxter International has appointed Ludwig Hantson, Ph.D., corporate VP and president, international. Dr. Hantson joins Baxter from Novartis, where he served as CEO, Pharma North America. He received a Ph.D. in motor rehabilitation and physical therapy from the University of Louvain in Belgium. Biotechnology POOL Dr. David MEEKER Genzyme Selects Operating Chief Global diversified biotechnology company Genzyme has appointed Executive VP David Meeker, M.D., to the newly created role of chief operating officer. Dr. Meeker is responsible for Genzyme’s commercial organization, overseeing the company’s business units, country management organization, and global market access functions. He received an M.D. from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School. Biopharmaceutical POOL Georgina KILFOIL Anthera Expands Development Group Anthera Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs to treat serious diseases associated with inflammation, has hired Georgina Kilfoil for the newly created role of senior VP of product development and clinical operations. Ms. Kilfoil was previously a project management consultant with InClin. She received an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management in Sydney. Andrew KOVEN Inspire Names Chief Legal Officer Inspire Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on researching, developing, and commercializing prescription pharmaceutical products for ophthalmic and pulmonary diseases, has appointed Andrew Koven to the newly created position of executive VP and chief administrative and legal officer. Mr. Koven was previously executive VP, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Sepracor. He received an LL.B. from Dalhousie University Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and an LL.M. from Columbia University Law School. Nicholas LABELLA Insmed Appoints Scientific Chief Nicholas LaBella Jr. has joined Insmed in the newly created role of chief scientific officer. Mr. LaBella has 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in various functions and most recently served as VP of development and regulatory affairs at Cardiokine. A registered pharmacist, he received an M.S. from the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy at Long Island University. Specialty POOL Dr. Philip ARLEN Neogenix Oncology Appoints CEO Philip Arlen, M.D., has been named CEO of Neogenix Oncology, a therapeutics and diagnostics company focused on developing new products targeting a broad range of cancers. Dr. Arlen joined Neogenix as president and chief medical officer in July 2008. He received an M.D. from Medical College of Georgia’s School of Medicine. Dr. Errol DE SOUZA Dr. Solomon STEINER Biodel Announces Leadership Changes Errol De Souza, Ph.D., has joined Biodel as president and CEO as the specialty biopharmaceutical company prepares for the potential approval and commercialization of its first product, VIAject, to treat diabetes. Before joining Biodel, he served as a pharmaceutical and biotechnology consultant. Dr. De Souza earned a Ph.D. in neuroendocrinology from the University of Toronto and received his postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. De Souza succeeds Biodel Co-Founder Solomon Steiner, Ph.D., who has been named the company’s chief scientific officer. Device/Diagnostic POOL Dr. Albert LUDERER Integrated Diagnostics Selects CEO Personalized diagnostics company Integrated Diagnostics has named Albert Luderer, Ph.D., CEO. Dr. Luderer was previously president and CEO of BioTrove. He received a Ph.D. from Rutgers University and performed postgraduate work in immunology at Jefferson Medical College. Emerging POOL Paul WESTBERG Versartis Appoints VP Versartis, an emerging biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics for patients with metabolic diseases and endocrine disorders, has named Paul Westberg senior VP, business development. Most recently, Mr. Westberg was VP, business development at Bayhill Therapeutics. He received an MBA from the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. CRO POOL J. Scott TARRANT RRD International Names Business Officer RRD International, a strategy-driven biotech and pharmaceutical product development company, has hired J. Scott Tarrant as chief business officer. Mr. Tarrant was previously engaged by RRD to help chart the company’s growth strategy and implement its asset-centric business model. F Send your personnel announcements to [email protected]. executive appointments and promotions in the healthcare industry
