Contract Research
Cincinnati-based CRO Kendle appointed Simon Higginbotham, formerly
Kendle’s chief marketing officer, to president, replacing long time president and co-founder
Chris Bergen.
Bergen helped start the company in 1981 with current chief executive officer, Candace Kendle.
“As we embark on the next stage of our corporate growth, it is imperative we have the
dedicated leadership in place to support our needs as a larger global organization,” said
Kendle. Bergen will remain in his role as chief operations officer.
In addition, the company appointed Alan Boyce to fill the position of chief
marketing officer. Boyce held the position of vice president of Kendle’s clinical development
in Europe and Africa from 2003 to 2007. He returns to Kendle after serving as chief operating
officer at patient recruitment firm Synexus.
Wilmington, N.C.-based PPD appointed Mike Wilkinson, Ph.D, to the
position of executive vice president of global clinical development. He will be responsible
for all of the company’s phase II through IV trials in worldwide. Prior to PPD, Wilkinson was
global head of internal medicine and vice president of project management at Quintiles.
Before that, he served 27 years in the United States military, beginning with a career as a
Navy Seal.
And after more than 16 years with the CRO, PPD’s Paul Covington, M.D. is
retiring from his position of executive vice president and chief medical officer, effective
June 30th. He will stay on in an advisory role for special projects through the end of the
year and consult for the company thereafter. PPD stated it anticipates having a replacement
in place by mid-2008. Covington, who is board certified in internal medicine, was in private
practice in Clanton, Alabama from 1985 to 1990. He served as chief of staff and director of
critical care and cardiopulmonary disease at a Clanton hospital. "Paul is one of the most
talented physicians in our industry, and his leadership and unwavering commitment to
excellence have played a significant role in the continued growth and success of our
company," said Fred Eshelman, chief executive officer.
Wayne, Pa.-based CRO Encorium
Group’s chief financial officer Lawrence Hoffman has resigned
his post, effective May 2. Encorium stated Hoffman is leaving his post to pursue other
interests. The company said it will begin the search for a new U.S.-based CFO immediately.
"Larry has created a solid financial foundation that will support our ongoing global
expansion and business development initiatives. On behalf of the entire Encorium
organization, we wish Larry good luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his ole in
the growth of the Company over the past four years,” said Kai Lindevall, M.D., Ph.D., chief
executive officer, and Kenneth Borow, M.D., president and chief medical and strategic
development officer, in a joint statement.
Encorium also appointed Peter Asplund country manager of the company’s
Swedish operations. He was formerly the director of marketing and business development at
AstraZeneca. His previous posts also include director of business development at
GlaxoSmithKline in the UK.
Laboratory Testing
St. Louis-based diagnostic testing company Biomedical Systems named Geert Dewulf, M.D. ,
managing director of the company's European operations, replacing Rita Jacobs who is set to
retire following 27 years with the company. Dewulf will be based in Burssles, Biomedical
System's European headquarters. Prior to joining Biomedical Systems, Dewulf held positions at
Agfa Healthcare, where he served as Managing Director for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Biomedical Systems provides centralized diagnostic testing (including cardiac safety and
imaging) for clinical trials.
Technology
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based eClinical provider OmniComm
Systems promoted Stephen Johnson to chief operating officer.
Prior to this position, Johnson was executive vice president of business development and
professional services. He has been with OmniComm Systems since 2006, when he was appointed
senior vice president of business development. "We have opened new offices in Bonn, Germany
and Tula, Russia to support global clinical trials, we have built dedicated Professional
Services and Clinical Services and Support divisions, built a bridge from Oracle Clinical to
OmniComm through our OC Connect program and we have implemented our extremely successful CRO
Preferred Partnership program. Steve has been the defining influence for all of these
programs that were developed to provide quality deliverables to our customers. We look
forward to benefiting from Steve's experience and dedication as he leads operations as our
new COO," said OmniComm's chief executive officer Cornelis Wit.
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