Dr. Paul Bleicher, chairman and founder of Waltham, Mass.-based eClinical technology company Phase Forward, will step down from his day-to-day operational responsibilities at the end of October. Phase Forward president and CEO Robert Weiler will also assume Bleicher’s role as chairman of the company’s board of directors, of which Bleicher will remain a member.

Other personnel news from the clinical trials industry:

Oncology contract research organization (CRO) Medelis, based in Phoenix, Ariz., named Deirdre Tessman managing director of Medelis Europe, the company’s new European division. Formerly of Tessman Technology and ILEX Pharmaceuticals, Tessman has directed all phases of pharmaceutical development from research through drug approval and marketing with additional expertise in the startup and turnaround of pharmaceutical companies.

Wilmington, Mass.-based Charles River Laboratories appointed Christophe Berthoux to the newly created position of executive vice president, global sales and marketing, and chief commercial officer. The goal of Charles River’s new global sales and marketing organization is to enhance the company’s ability to provide customers with a centralized, integrated approach to their drug development programs.