Symonds steps down as Novartis CFO, Kirsch takes over

Welcome to this week's roundup of hirings and firings throughout the industry. Please send the good word (or the bad) from your shop to Michael Gibney (email | Twitter) or Emily Mullin (email | Twitter) and we will feature it here each Friday.

Symonds Steps Down as Novartis CFO, Kirsch Takes Over

Novartis ($NVS) CFO Jon Symonds stepped down, and current pharma CFO Harry Kirsch stepped up to take his place. The change comes as a bit of a surprise to analysts, who say Symonds is well-liked by investors. The official reason, however, is that Kirsch pushed productivity at the pharma division and is expected to do the same for the entire company. It comes at a time when the company heralds a few other changes as well, including layoffs and pay cuts, despite solid first-quarter results. More

Jon Symonds
Symonds will step down as CFO

Lynn Webster - CRI Lifetree
Webster was named president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine

 

Biotech

Lynn Webster, chief medical director of CRI Lifetree and co-founder of Lifetree Clinical Research, has been elected president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, where he is a long-standing member of the board of directors. The organization focuses on education, training, advocacy and research in the specialty of pain medication. Release

Hurel has appointed Iwona Kelley as chief business officer. Kelley joins Hurel from EMD Millipore. Release

> PTC Therapeutics has appointed Mark Rothera as chief commercial officer. Rothera previously served as global president of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals ($AEGR). Release

Amarantus has appointed Russell Miller as director of investor relations. Miller previously served as director of investor relations for US Data Works and for Force Protection. Release

VentiRx Pharmaceuticals has appointed Dr. James Kyle Bryan chief medical officer. Bryan currently serves on the clinical faculty of medicine for hematology and oncology at the University of Washington Medical Center. Release

SkelRegen has hired John M. Wozney as director of scientific affairs and co-owner. He joins the SkelRegen team from the Genetics Institute. Release

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has elected Rachel King, president and CEO of GlycoMimetics, as the new chair of its Board of Directors for the 2013-2014 term. BIO also elected new officers and board members. Release

Torsten Hoof has joined Endocyte ($ECYT) as vice president and general manager, Europe, and Ulf Staginnus has been appointed as executive director, head market access and pricing, Europe, of the company. Release

Orexigen Therapeutics ($OREX) elected CEO Michael Narachi to the board of directors at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, where he will serve as director for two years. Release

Macrocure nominated Vickie R. Driver to head Phase III clinical trials of its CureXcell cell therapy product for the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds. Release

RXi Pharmaceuticals ($RXII) appointed H. Paul Dorman and Curtis Lockshin to its board of directors. Release

Bobby W. Sandage Jr., president and director of Coronado Biosciences ($CNDO), left the company after two years. Release

Diagnostics

> Former Pfizer ($PFE) executive Stephen Williams has joined the board of directors at Venaxis. Item

Pharma

> Aceto ($ACET) bid farewell to Ronald Gold and David Rosen, former owners of the Rising Pharmaceuticals business acquired by ACETO in 2010. Release

CRO

> Cromos Pharma appointed Andrey Bazovoy as its director of clinical operations. Before joining Cromos, Bazovoy spent 15 years at Quintiles Transnational. Release