Contract research organization PPD appointed Mike Wilkinson, Ph.D., as executive vice president and chief information officer and Paul Colvin as executive vice president of global clinical development.

As executive vice president and CIO, Wilkinson will provide strategic direction for PPD's development and deployment of innovative ideas and technology and will oversee the integration of technology initiatives with process improvement, business analytics and global training programs.

"The strategic operational knowledge that Mike Wilkinson brings to the CIO role will add an invaluable dimension in setting the direction for innovative technology and information processing that better supports our core clinical development businesses and ultimately the solutions our customers expect from us," said David Grange, chief executive officer of PPD. 

For the last two years, Wilkinson served as executive vice president of global clinical development with responsibility for PPD's Phase II-IV operations across North America; Latin America; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific. Prior to joining PPD, he was global head of internal medicine and vice president of project management for another CRO.

Colvin will assume the role previously held by Wilkinson, providing strategic leadership for global clinical development, including phase II-IV operations across North America; Latin America; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific.

"Paul Colvin's extensive experience prior to joining PPD and his significant contributions in leading our North America group make him ideally suited to directing and growing our clinical development operations across six continents," Grange said.

Colvin previously served nearly three years as PPD's senior vice president of clinical development for North America. He joined PPD after 14 years with Eli Lilly and Company in a series of leadership roles.