The Drug Information Association (DIA) appointed Paul Pomerantz as its new worldwide executive director, replacing William Brassington who has served as acting executive director since July 2008.

Pomerantz is currently executive vice president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, an association of more than 7,000 reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgeons, and will transition to his new role at DIA as of December 1.

Pomerantz will direct the association’s global operations and strategic expansion, while Brassington resumes his role as DIA’s worldwide director of finance.

“The requirements for the position of DIA worldwide executive director have evolved and are particularly challenging,” said Marie Dray, DIA immediate-past president and search chair of the search committee that hired Pomerantz, in a statement. “The position requires experience as an association leader, understanding of the challenges of membership building, skill in training and educational program development, not to mention state-of-the-art knowledge of global healthcare changes.”