Welcome to this week's Chutes and Ladders, our roundup of hirings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word--or the bad--from your shop to Eric Sagonowsky (email) or Amirah Al Idrus (email | Twitter), and we will feature it here at the end of each week.
Novartis loses U.S. head Christi Shaw
Novartis
Christi Shaw left the company.
Novartis’ U.S. head Christi Shaw stepped down from her position this week for personal and family reasons, having held the role since April 2014. As of May 1, her duties will be split between Fabrice Chouraqui and the division’s general counsel Tom Kendris. Shaw was one of the highest-ranking women in Big Pharma and widely viewed as a mentor and advocate for women at the company. FierceBiotech named her in its Top Women in Biopharma report last fall, and she has been featured in Working Mother. In a statement, Novartis thanked Shaw for her “inspirational leadership.” Story
Melinta names Dr. Eugene Sun CEO
Melinta Therapeutics
Dr. Eugene Sun was named CEO.
Melinta Therapeutics named Dr. Eugene Sun its CEO this week. Sun started serving as interim CEO in September 2015 after Melinta’s former head, Mary Szela, exited amid a Phase III push for the company’s lead antibiotic and after she helped raise $67 million in equity financing. “I am highly motivated by our mission at Melinta to discover, develop and commercialize a continuing new stream of antibiotics to meet the pressing public health needs we are facing today,” Sun said in a statement. “I am confident that we have the right team, technology and products to succeed in this challenge and look forward to leading Melinta to deliver on this promise.” Release
Bayer names Paul Capelli consumer health communications VP
Bayer
Paul Capelli was named VP of communications for consumer health.
Paul Capelli joined Bayer as a VP of communications for consumer health, bringing experience from previous roles at QVC, CNBC, Amazon.com and Ketchum to Bayer’s consumer brands. He joins as Bayer makes a consumer health push following its 2014 purchase of Merck’s OTC business that catapulted it to the largest consumer health business worldwide. Capelli will report to U.S. communications, government relations and policy head Raymond Kerins. "We are excited to have someone of Paul's experience and professionalism join the Bayer team," Kerins said in a release. "Paul knows this industry well and has all the skills necessary to push Bayer's reputation to even greater heights." Release
Novo to invest €100M on site in France, adding 250 jobs. Story
> Dicerna brought on John “Jack” Green as its chief financial officer. Release
> Dr. Gregory Berk joined Verastem as its chief medical officer. Release
> PuriCore named Dr. Christian Peters as its chief medical officer. Release
> Osiris terminated its chief medical officer, Dr. Jon Hopper. Release
> ARMO BioSciences appointed Dr. Gail Brown as its chief medical officer. Release
> James Goldschmidt joined CASI Pharmaceuticals as vice president of business development. Release
> AdaptysBio brought on Matthew Moyle as its chief scientific officer. Release
> Liquidia Technologies named Dr. Mike Royal its senior vice president of clinical development. Release
> Bradley Rice joined Profusa as its vice president of engineering R&D. Release
> Joseph Horrigan will be the new chief medical officer at AMO Pharma. Release
> Symic Biomedical appointed Kathleen Gogas as vice president of preclinical development. Release
> Medgenics hired Eric Phillips as vice president of regulatory affairs. Release
> Helix Biopharma named Patrick Frankham as chief operating officer and Steve Demas as chief medical officer. Release
> Lumos Pharma appointed John McKew as chief scientific officer. Release
> Checkmate Pharma named Dr. David Mauro as chief medical officer. Release
> Eisai’s U.S. business appointed Dr. Avinash Desai as vice president, Americas Oncology Medical Affairs, Oncology Business Group. Release
> Aralez appointed James Hall as general manager of its Canadian business. Release
Animal Health
> Henry Schein ($HSIC) promoted Dave McKinley to chief commercial officer. Karen Prange will join as executive vice president and CEO, Global Animal Health and Medical Group. Release