DIA, a neutral, global, professional member-driven association of nearly 18,000 professionals involved in the discovery, development and life cycle management of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and related healthcare products, has named Barbara Lopez Kunz global chief executive, to lead the organization beginning in September. Kunz brings worldwide leadership experience to DIA as former president of the global health and life sciences business at Battelle, an international science and technology nonprofit organization that explores emerging areas of science, develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories.

At Battelle, Kunz led strategic investments, alliance development and technology commercialization, increasing the number of research collaborations with industrial, government and academic sponsors. She also has held senior roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific (formerly Fisher Scientific International), Croda International (formerly Uniqema), DuPont and PPG Industries, after starting her career as a research scientist.

Kunz has presided over the board of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and is a trustee of both the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Institute and BioOhio, a statewide organization stimulating economic development in the bioscience community. Kunz is a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Ohio chapter advisory board.