Pharma Pool Dr. John REED Roche Corporate Executive Committee Appoints Head Roche has apointed John Reed, M.D., Ph.D., as head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) and member of the corporate executive committee. Dr. Reed earned his M.D. and Ph.D. at the School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Roche, he was CEO at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. Dr. Reed has authored several hundred medical research publications and is among the world’s most highly cited scientists for his research contributions. He is an inventor of more than 100 patents, a member of multiple scientific journal editorial boards, and the founder or co-founder of a number of biotechnology companies. Biopharma Pool Dr. Peter PARK Mersana Therapeutics Adds to Senior Management Mersana Therapeutics has named Peter Park, Ph.D., to its senior management team as VP of biology. These hires support Mersana’s focus on next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) using Fleximer conjugation technology. Dr. Park brings to Mersana significant experience in the discovery and development of antibody-drug conjugate therapies. Before joining Mersana, he was a co-founder and CEO of Habgen. Dr. Park earned his Ph.D. and B.S. in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. CRO Pool Dr. Daniel BURCH Dr. Puneet MOHAN Dr. Alan SOLINGER PPD Strengthens Drug Development Expertise with New Therapeutic Area Heads Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) has expanded its global product development department, adding drug development expertise with the appointment of three new therapeutic area heads: Daniel Burch, M.D., central nervous system; Puneet Mohan, M.D., Ph.D., cardiovascular/metabolism; and Alan Solinger, M.D., rheumatology/immunology. Each therapeutic head brings extensive product development and commercialization experience to PPD and will play key roles in helping clients plan and address critical drug development challenges. Dr. Burch is a pharmaceutical and biotech research and development executive with 20 years of experience in general management, global drug development, global medical affairs, and business development across multiple therapeutic areas and functions. He joins PPD from CeNeRx BioPharma, where he most recently served as executive VP president of research and development and chief medical officer, and led and managed an R&D portfolio directed toward neurology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, oncology, and other therapeutic areas. Dr. Burch earned his medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a master’s degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Mohan comes to PPD from Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he most recently served as executive director of global clinical development and global clinical leader for apixaban, a position he held for eight of his 29-year medical career. In that role, he provided leadership for the clinical development strategy and the implementation of the apixaban clinical trial program from the Phase II and III studies leading to NDA filing and subsequent regulatory approval. Dr. Mohan completed his residency in general/internal medicine and earned his medical degree from the JN Medical College Hospital. He completed fellowships in cardiology at OLV Ziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium, and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, Australia. He also holds a Ph.D. in medical sciences from the University of Antwerp. Dr. Solinger has extensive directorial and clinical experience in the critical phases of product development, regulatory negotiations, marketing approval and line extension during his 30-year medical career. He joins PPD from Xoma, where he served as VP of clinical immunology. Dr. Solinger earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Missouri–Columbia. He completed fellowships at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in cellular immunology, and the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine in clinical immunology and rheumatology. Agency Pool Debra COUGHLIN Dana MAIMAN Draftfcb New York Makes Top-Level Appointments Debra Coughlin, global chief marketing officer of Draftfcb, has been appointed to lead the New York office on an interim basis as acting managing director while a search for the post is under way. Dana Maiman, CEO and president of the Draftfcb Healthcare family of companies, who had served a dual role as the president of the New York general agency since 2010, will now exclusively lead Draftfcb Healthcare, with a focus on replicating the company’s domestic healthcare success globally. Darlene DOBRY Shaun URBAN Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide Promotes Two to Managing Partners Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide, the health behavior experts of Ogilvy & Mather and a WPP company, has promoted Darlene Dobry and Shaun Urban to managing partners within the organization and members of Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide’s global executive committee. Ms. Dobry and Mr. Urban join Michael Parisi and Marc Weiner in the important leadership role of managing partners and together the team holds direct responsibility for the network’s client-facing agencies and skill centers in the United States. Ms. Dobry joined Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide seven years ago, and began her tenure with the company as the president of Carbon (a then CommonHealth agency). As managing partner, she oversees the Ogilvy CommonHealth Medical Marketing, Ogilvy CommonHealth Specialty Marketing, and Ogilvy CommonHealth Medical Media groups within the network. Mr. Urban, who has been with the company for eight years, most recently served as president of Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide’s two U.S.-based payer marketing agencies and as the organization’s executive director, client development and engagement. In his new role, Mr. Urban is responsible for Ogilvy CommonHealth Payer Marketing, Healthworld Payer Marketing, and Ogilvy CommonHealth Medical Education, as well as all U.S.-based new business initiatives for the company. Martin LAIKS Carol PRICE Arnold Worldwide Adds to Senior Ranks Arnold Worldwide has named Martin Laiks to the role of executive VP, group account director, to lead the agency’s Sanofi business in the New York office. Mr. Laiks brings almost 20 years of digital marketing innovation and leadership across a variety of industries to his new role. In his most recent role, he served as executive VP, managing director of digital, for Draftfcb. In other agency news, Carol Price has been hired as senior VP, marketing director, focusing on the agency’s Sanofi business. Ms. Price joins Arnold from G2, the digital division of the Grey Group, where she most recently served as senior VP, group account director, for Lilly’s Cialis. Mark STEVENS Publicis Touchpoint Solutions Names Senior VP, Commercial Solutions Mark Stevens has joined Publicis Touchpoint Solutions as senior VP, commercial solutions. Mr. Stevens is charged with leading company-wide efforts to enhance all customer-directed technologies, systems, tools, and processes, and analytical capabilities across the organization. Most recently, Mr. Stevens served as a consultant, marketing, analytics, and product development for Medmeme. Technology Pool John CUNNINGHAM QPharma Names Executive VP of Sales QPharma, a compliance consulting and brand solutions firm, has hired John Cunningham to assume the position of executive VP of sales. Mr. Cunningham will play a leadership role in driving account growth and new business development. Most recently, Mr. Cunningham served as VP of national accounts at MediMedia USA. Xavier FLINOIS Parexel Names New President of Perceptive Informatics Xavier Flinois is set to succeed Steve Kent as president of Perceptive Informatics, Parexel’s technology division. Mr. Flinois joins Parexel with more than 20 years of experience in the technology and healthcare IT sector. Most recently, Mr. Flinois was CEO of Clinical Solutions. Mr. Flinois holds a master’s degree in science from Ecole Polytechnique and a master’s degree in engineering from Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees. Jeff ROGERS Clinverse Names Senior VP, Sales & Marketing Clinverse, a provider of a global cloud-based financial management and payment platform for clinical trials, has named Jeff Rogers as senior VP, sales and marketing. Mr. Rogers has more than 20 years of experience developing sales and marketing strategies, selling and delivering software and services, and building long-term relationships. Most recently, he served as executive VP of business development and strategy at eClinical Solutions. Pharma Pool Dr. Ann AERTS New Head of the Novartis Foundation Named The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development has appointed Dr. Ann Aerts as its new head. Dr. Aerts takes over from Prof. Dr. Klaus M. Leisinger, who led the foundation for more than 30 years. Dr. Leisinger remains chairman of the board of trustees of the Novartis Foundation and also assumed the role of special advisor to the chairman and CEO of Novartis. Dr. Aerts holds a degree in medicine and a masters in public health from the University of Leuven, as well as a degree in tropical medicine from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. Most recently she was the franchise medical director critical care for Novartis Pharma in Basel. Before joining Novartis in 2006, Dr. Aerts worked with international organizations in various countries overseas, after which she served as the head of the health services department of the International Committee of the Red Cross and then as the director of the Lung and Tuberculosis Association in Belgium. Andy AJELLO Camille LEE Dr. Alan MOSES Dr. Anne PHILLIPS Novo Nordisk Promotes Four Members of U.S. Leadership Team to Senior VP Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company focused on diabetes care, has promoted four members of its U.S. executive team from corporate VPs to senior VPs: Andy Ajello, U.S. national diabetes sales; Camille Lee, U.S. diabetes marketing; Alan Moses, M.D., global chief medical officer; and Anne Phillips, M.D., U.S. clinical, medical and regulatory affairs. Mr. Ajello joined Novo Nordisk in March 2001 and currently leads the national diabetes sales strategy and the company’s 3,200 person field sales organization. Ms. Lee has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. She joined Novo Nordisk in 1985 as a sales representative in southern California, and through her tenure with the company has held national and international positions of increasing authority in the areas of marketing, strategic launch planning, and sales management. She currently has oversight for the marketing of all in-line and future brands, as well as the organization’s Diabetes Educator Program. Dr. Moses joined Novo Nordisk in 2004 from Harvard Medical School and the Joslin Diabetes Center as associate VP for clinical research and medical affairs — endocrinology, and in 2007 was named chief medical officer for North America. One year later, he was appointed to global chief medical officer. He is involved in the full spectrum of Novo Nordisk’s diverse diabetes work. Dr. Phillips brings more than 20 years of medical, research, and regulatory experience to her role. She currently leads an integrated drug development, medical, regulatory, and safety team of more than 550 people, and plays a key role in advancing Novo Nordisk’s diabetes and biopharmaceutical clinical development pipelines. She is responsible for the efficient development and delivery of compounds in clinical trials, including product lifestyle and in-licensed compounds. Chris Meneely Sanofi Pasteur Appoints Global Head of Market Strategy and Development Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, has appointed Chris Meneely to the new position of global head of market strategy and development. The position was created to lead market development and access initiatives and to coordinate the marketing planning process, market research and analytical, pricing, project management, as well as digital and social marketing activities. Previously, Mr. Meneely was senior director, global business planning and operations in the company’s U.S. offices. Mr. Meneely received a B.S. in biology from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from Villanova University. Biopharma Pool Robert FORRESTER Verastem Promotes Chief Operating Officer to President Verastem, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells, promoted Robert Forrester to president in addition to chief operating officer. Mr. Forrester has been instrumental as Verastem has translated the fundamentally transformative cancer stem cell work into drugs now on the cusp of a potentially pivotal study. Dr. Stacey RUIZ La Jolla Pharmaceutical Adds to Management Team La Jolla Pharmaceutical, which is developing therapeutics that target galectin-3, has named Stacey Ruiz, Ph.D., as director of research and development. Dr. Ruiz comes to La Jolla after five years at Reata Pharmaceuticals, most recently working on bardoxolone methyl for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. Dr. Ruiz completed her post-doctoral fellowship in medical oncology at Harvard Medical School/ Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She received her Ph.D. in cancer biology from UT/MD Anderson Cancer Center and B.S. from the University of Notre Dame. Biotech Pool Dr. Divakar RAMAKRISHNAN Moderna Appoints Senior VP, Process Development, Manufacturing, and Quality Moderna Therapeutics, which is developing a new platform designed to spur the body to create its own therapeutic proteins to treat a wide range of diseases, has named Divakar Ramakrishnan, Ph.D., as senior VP, process development, manufacturing, and quality. In this role, he is leading drug substance, drug product, and analytical development. Dr. Ramakrishnan joins Moderna from Lilly, where he was VP of manufacturing. He holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Emerging Pool Dr. Paul SARTORI Dr. Bruce SILVER Tau Therapeutics Hires Chief Medical Officer and VP of Operations and Strategy Tau Therapeutics, a privately held oncology company, has made two key additions to its executive management team. Paul Sartori, Ph.D., fills the new position of VP of operations and strategy. Bruce Silver, M.D., has been named chief medical officer. Dr. Silver is leading Tau’s clinical development and research program centered on mibefradil and its novel Interlaced Therapy approach. Both are integral to the company’s mission of developing T-type calcium channel inhibitors for treating solid tumors. Dr. Sartori has served as a business advisor to Tau since 2008 and brings 30 years of business experience and organizational development expertise from senior positions at large pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Silver has extensive experience in oncology with large and small pharmaceutical companies, most recently developing and executing the clinical programs for Avila Therapeutics (acquired by Celgene). Dr. Peter SUZDAK Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Appoints CEO Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing potential first-in-class oncology and CNS therapeutics, has appointed Dr. Peter Suzdak as its new CEO. He succeeds Dr. Chang Ahn, who will move into the role of chief scientist and remain chairman. Most recently, Dr. Suzdak was chief scientific officer of Corridor Pharmaceuticals. Specialty Pool Victor VAUGHN Supernus Appoints Senior VP of Sales Supernus Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company, has appointed Victor Vaughn to the position of senior VP of sales. For the past seven years he has been consulting with small- to medium-size pharmaceutical companies, assisting them with their commercial operations. Mr. Vaughn earned his bachelor degree in business administration from East Tennessee State University. Agency Pool Sandra CHASE Blue Chip Marketing Names VP of Patient Recruitment Blue Chip Patient R cruitment (BCPR), a division of Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide, an independent, full-service global marketing agency, has named Sandra Chase as VP of patient recruitment. With an extensive background in integrated communications and clinical trial patient recruitment consulting, she brings more than 15 years of experience to the Blue Chip Patient Recruitment team and will be responsible for managing the agency’s key partnerships and client relationships. Before joining Blue Chip, Ms. Chase served as principal of her own public relations and patient recruitment consulting company. Dr. Chirag PATEL Connexion Healthcare names Senior Medical Director Connexion Healthcare has named Chirag Patel, Pharm.D., as senior medical director. In this role, Dr. Patel is responsible for providing overall medical direction for clients and internal staff, along with medical expertise for new business opportunities related to the continued growth and enhancement of the rare disease and neuroscience business units of Connexion Healthcare. Dr. Patel comes to Connexion after gaining experience in medical communications and marketing in the pharmaceutical industry through his roles as a medical director and medical strategist for various agencies. Dr. Patel’s background is as a community healthcare pharmacist. He earned a doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Michigan and then completed a Rutgers Institute for Pharmaceutical Industry Post-Doctoral Fellowship in medical strategy, virology at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Technology Pool Frank LAVELLE Symphony Health Appoints CEO Symphony Health Solutions, a provider of data, analytics, and technology-based solutions for life-science manufacturers, payers, and providers, has appointed Frank Lavelle CEO. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of SunGard Data Systems’ K12 division.
