Chiltern International, a global CRO, has promoted Aize Smink and Linda Christmas to executive positions, coinciding with Dr. Jim Esinhart’s appointment as CEO.

Aize Smink, previously senior executive vice president of global clinical development, has been named chief operating officer. In this new position he will provide leadership and oversight of Chiltern’s global clinical development and global scientific services divisions. Aize has more than 20 years of development experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries and joined Chiltern in 2006. He is based in Brussels, Belgium.

Linda Christmas, formerly senior executive vice president of global resourcing solutions, will now serve as chief resourcing officer in recognition of her role as the global head of Chiltern’s global resourcing solutions division and leading select corporate services which include human resources, marketing and recruitment. Christmas has more than 25 years of clinical research experience and has been with Chiltern since 1997. She is based in Slough, U.K.