Welcome to this week's Chutes and Ladders, our roundup of hirings, firings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word—or the bad—from your shop to Eric Sagonowsky (email) or Angus Liu (email), and we will feature it here at the end of each week.
28-year J&J vet Ross to lead Henry Schein's Global Medical Group
Henry Schein
Bridget Ross became president of Global Medical Group.
A week after Johnson & Johnson’s long-time Medical Devices Worldwide Chair Gary Pruden retired from his post, another management member of that same business has also decided to leave the company. Bridget Ross, formerly J&J Medical Devices Group’s VP of commercial operations in North America, has joined Henry Schein, the world’s largest distributor of healthcare products and services, as president of Global Medical Group. Her new responsibilities, starting Feb. 14, include leading the group’s strategic direction, marketing, business development and technology solutions. Ross spent more than 28 years in sales, marketing and general management roles during her time with J&J. Stanley Bergman, chairman and CEO of Henry Schein, praised Ross for having “the talent, energy and experience necessary to successfully manage large organizations during periods of great change,” in a statement. Release
House Energy and Commerce Committee’s staff director Andres joins BIO
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Gary Andres was named SEVP of public affairs.
It’s not uncommon for a government employee joins the industry, especially in a public affairs position that interacts with the government. Gary Andres, Ph.D., long-time majority staff director of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, became the latest example of that transfer by joining BIO as SEVP of public affairs. During his time with the Committee, Andres managed a staff of nearly 70 people and a $7 million budget, and oversaw legislative policy development and strategic communications within the Committee’s jurisdiction, including healthcare. Andres’ experiences fit “this critical advocacy position” at BIO, the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions and related organizations, said Jim Greenwood, president & CEO of BIO. Release
Infinity Pharma promotes Jeffery Kutok to CSO
Infinity
Jeffery Kutok was promoted to CSO.
Jeffery Kutok, M.D., Ph.D., joined Infinity Pharma in 2010 and was promoted to VP of biology and translational science in 2013. He was recently promoted once again, this time to the role of CSO, to oversee the company’s ongoing clinical development of IPI-549, an oral immunotherapy med. Infinity’s CEO Adelene Perkins said the appointment was based on Kutok’s “strong scientific acumen and deep expertise in oncology.” Prior to Infinity, Kutok was an associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, with over 190 journal articles, reviews and book chapters under his belt. Release
> InGeneron announced several changes to its management team: Michael Coleman, Ph.D., stepped down as president and CEO. Ron Stubbers, formerly VP of operations, was appointed president, while the company searches for a new CEO. Glenn Winnier, Ph.D., was named CSO. Release
> William Rote, Ph.D., formerly VP of clinical development at AstraZeneca's Ardea Biosciences, was appointed SVP of R&D at Retrophin. Release
> Therachon AG, a biotech focused on rare genetic diseases, announced the appointment of Richard Porter, Ph.D., as COO and Jefferey Stavenhagen, Ph.D. as VP of biology. Release
> Bringing with him 25 years of experience in the CRO sector and global regulatory legislation, Markus Weissbach, M.D., Ph.D., previously CMO at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, was named clinical trial director at Arterial Capital Management. Release (PDF)
> Catalyst Biosciences, a clinical-stage company focused on hematology indications, promoted Andrew Hetherington to SVP of technical operations. Release
> California-based Marina Biotech, which is focused on arthritis, hypertension and cancer, named Larn Hwang, Ph.D., as CSO, and Mihir Munsif as COO. Release