Ambrx, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company using an expanded genetic code to create best-in-class biotherapeutics, has appointed Lawson Macartney, Ph.D., DVM, as president and CEO of the company and a member of the board of directors.

Macartney brings more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including recent work growing and diversifying the clinical pipeline of Shire Pharmaceuticals as senior vice president and head of emerging business unit. Prior to joining Shire in 2011, Macartney served as senior vice president of global product strategy and project/portfolio management for GlaxoSmithKline. He also previously held additional positions at Astra Pharmaceuticals and Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals.