INC Research, Quintiles, Bridge Pharmaceuticals, Charles River Laboratories and PharmaNet - People on the move
Laboratories and PharmaNet have all had people on the move in the
world of pharmaceutical outsourcing.
INC Research has recruited David Provost to its Late Phase Services team as vice president. In this position, Provost will be responsible for managing the operational unit, as well as consulting with clients over the design and implementation of their global late phase programs. "Due to increased regulatory scrutiny, the number of Phase IV studies will continue to increase," said Alistair Macdonald, senior vice president of Global Data Services at the firm. Prior to joining INC Research, Provost was senior executive director of Post-Approval Strategic Operations for larger, rival contract research organization (CRO) Pharmaceutical Products Development (PPD). Quintiles Transnational has brought Jay Norman on board to serve as president of its Consulting business, which it is throwing its weight behind in order to grow. The unit aims to provide its clients with "competitive advantages and insight as they navigate the development process and look to expand the financial and therapeutic potential of their products". Norman joins the firm from a company called Diamond Management and Technology Consultants, where he was president and COO. Bridge Pharmaceuticals has hired Vincent Lagrotteria to work as vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, joining the firm from a parallel position in another drug development services firm, Bilcare. Meanwhile, Charles River Laboratories has made numerous new internal appointments of late, promoting Dr Brian Bathgate to corporate senior vice president and president of European Preclinical Services; Christopher Perkin to the same positions in Canadian Preclinical Services; and Dr Jorg Geller to corporate senior vice president of Japanese Operations and Global Large Research Model and Avian Operations. Bathgate and Perkin both joined Charles River in 2004 following its merger with Inveresk, while Geller is a company veteran, having joined in 1986. The company has also added "biopharmaceutical entrepreneur" Nancy Chang to its Board of Directors. She currently serves as managing director at OrbiMed Advisors, where she seeks "private investment opportunities that capitalise on the rapid growth of Asia's life sciences markets". In other related news, PharmaNet Development Group has recently announced the resignation of Jack Levine as chairman and member of the board of directors and David Lucking as a member of the board of directors. The board of directors has appointed Peter Tombros, currently an independent member of the board, as chairman. In addition, the company's executive vice president of reporting and analysis and chief accounting officer, David Natan, also agreed to a "mutual separation", said PharmaNet. John Hamill, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will now take on the extra role of principal accounting officer. The company's share price fell after the surprise news as uncertainty crept in over what may be behind the resignations. It has since rallied.
