Agilent Technologies, a measurement and technology company focused on chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications, has announced that George A. Scangos, Ph.D., CEO and director of Biogen Idec, has been appointed to Agilent’s board of directors and will join the board in September.

Previously, Scangos was president and CEO of Exelixis, a drug discovery and development company. He also previously was president of Bayer Biotechnology. Scangos was non-executive chairman of Anadys Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, from 2005 to 2010. He has been chair of the California Healthcare Institute and a member of the board of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development.

Scangos replaces Dr. David Lawrence, who is retiring from the Agilent board after 13 years of service.