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.
Pearson out, Papa in as Valeant attempts a comeback
Valeant
Joseph Papa was named CEO.
The J. Michael Pearson era is over at Valeant ($VRX). On Monday, the embattled Canadian drugmaker named former Perrigo ($PRGO) helmsman Joseph Papa its next CEO as it desperately seeks new leadership and signs that things can get better. It was a busy week at Valeant, with Pearson, former CFO Howard Schiller and board member Bill Ackman heading to Washington, DC, for a Senate grilling over drug price hikes. On Thursday, news hit that the drugmaker will pay its new CEO $67 million--possibly up to $500 million--if he can bring the company back from its hard times. But that may prove to be a challenge, with Valeant’s old business models now no longer viable. Story | More | More
Biogen poaches Pfizer neuroscience expert Michael Ehlers
Biogen
Michael Ehlers was named EVP of R&D.
Michael Ehlers will leave his post at Pfizer ($PFE) to join Biogen ($BIIB) as head of R&D, bringing experience as a former Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and a leader in Pfizer’s neuroscience and pain research operations. He fills a void at Biogen left by Doug Williams, who departed last summer to run a startup. Ehlers once again benefits from the ongoing churning of senior executives in the space; he moved up the ladder at Pfizer following José-Carlos Gutiérrez-Ramos’ decision to leave and run Synlogic. He joins Biogen in the midst of a restructuring that has seen it lay off 850 staffers and narrow its R&D focus. Story
United Therapeutics co-CEO Jeffs, COO Zaccardelli to step down
United Therapeutics
Co-CEO Dr. Roger Jeffs will step down.
Silver Spring, MD-based United Therapeutics ($UTHR) is shaking things up in its senior management. This week, the company announced that co-CEO Dr. Roger Jeffs and COO David Zaccardelli will step down at the end of June, with Jeffs moving to a senior adviser role. Martine Rothblatt will remain chairman and CEO, while Michael Benkowitz, EVP of organizational development, will move to the role of president and COO. Release
Aurobindo to move U.S. HQ, manufacturing to North Carolina, creating 275 jobs. Story
Biotech
> Astellas named Rodrigo Fernandez its executive director of international business. Release
> Synergy Pharma’s ($SGYP) chief financial officer, Gary Sender, has resigned. Release
> Zenith Technologies appointed Joe Haugh as its chief executive officer. Release
> Dr. Carmen Puliafito joined Ophthotech ($OPHT) as its chief of strategic development. Release
> Perrigo ($PRGO) named John Hendrickson its CEO after Joseph Papa’s exit. Release
> ImmunoGen ($IMGN) brought on Mark Enyedy as its new CEO. Release
> Dr. Tuyen Ong joined PTC Therapeutics ($PTCT) as its chief medical officer. Release
> ANI Pharma ($ANIP) named Stephen Carey as its vice president and chief financial officer. Release
> Sysmex announced that it promoted Andy Hay to be its executive vice president. Release
> Navidea ($NAVB) appointed Jed Latkin as its interim chief operating officer. Release
> Genae appointed Dr. Jörn Balzer as its chief medical officer. Release
> Jeffrey Yordon joined Athenex as the lead of its specialty products division. Release
> Zymeworks named Dr. Diana Hausman as its chief medical officer. Release
> Eisai named Beyhan Zaim as its vice president of commercial development and Alzheimer’s disease, Paul Hawthorne as senior vice president of its U.S. commercial and neurology business group and Avinash Desai as vice president of American oncology affairs. Release
> Natera ($NTRA) announced that Dr. Kimberly Martin will be the senior global medical director of its women’s health franchise. Release
> Orexigen ($OREX) appointed Beth Eastland as its vice president of sales. Release
> Lee Industries named Joshua Montler as its president, chief financial officer and chief operational officer. Release
> Mirna Therapeutics ($MIRN) appointed Dr. Vincent O’Neill as its chief medical officer. Release
> James Demarco joined Opko Health ($OPK) as its senior vice president of pharmaceutical sales. Release
> Pliant Therapeutics named Hans Hull its chief business officer, Patrick Andre as VP of biology and Randall Halcomb as VP of medicinal chemistry. Release
> Glycotope selected Dr. Alfredo Zurlo for its chief medical officer role. Release
IT
> Medidata Solutions ($MDSO) brought on Christian Hebenstreit as the managing director of EMEA. Release
Marketing
> Sona Tolani joined Envy Medical as its senior vice president of marketing. Release
Medical Devices
> Biostage ($BSTG) appointed Ginger Abraham-Freel as its director of quality and operations. Release