Allergan CFO steps down amid buyout drama, but analysts aren't concerned

Chutes and Ladders

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 Michael Gibney (email | Twitter) or Emily Mullin (email | Twitter) and we will feature it here at the end of each week.

Allergan CFO steps down amid buyout drama, but analysts aren't concerned

Allergan CFO Jeff Edwards left his post Monday, effective immediately. Although the company ($AGN) is a buyout target currently clashing with Valeant ($VRX), which is looking to buy it via a $53 million hostile bid, analysts were unfazed by Edwards' sudden departure after 21 years with Allergan. Some analysts even considered it a strength, hinting at an independent future. According to a release, Edwards left due to family commitments. He will be replaced by SVP Jim Hindman. Story

Allergan
CFO Jeff Edwards left his position abruptly.


Galena
Mark Ahn stepped down as CEO.

Biotech

> Mark Schwartz will replace Mark Ahn as Galena Biopharma's ($GALE) president and CEO. Release | More

> Premune has appointed Dr. Carl Johnson as chief medical officer. Release

> Mark Levine joined Minerva Neurosciences as its vice president and general counsel. Release

> Cyanotech named Gerry Watts as its chief operations officer. Release

> Insulet ($PODD) appointed Timothy Scannell to its board of directors. Release

> Dr. Jaime Davidson joined Boston Therapeutics' ($BTHE) medical advisory board as a "noted diabetes specialist." Release

> Elma Hawkins has joined Lion Biotechnologies ($LBIO) as the company's president and chief operating officer. Release

> Clintrax Global has appointed Bradford Evans as vice president of administration. Release

> Asterias Biotherapeutics ($ASTY) has appointed Andrew Arno and Natale Ricciardi to its board of directors. Release

> Biogen Idec ($BIIB) has appointed Adriana Karaboutis as executive vice president of technology and business solutions. Release

> IntelliCell BioSciences ($SVFC) has added Raymond Hill to its board of directors. Release

> Cytori Therapeutics ($CYTX) announced that Tiago Girão has been appointed vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Release

Pharma

Sandeep Girotra, global HR head of Ranbaxy Laboratories, is reportedly leaving the company. Global pharma business head Rajiv Gulati also plans to leave soon. More

Ipsen ($IPN) has named Cynthia Schwalm as president and CEO of Ipsen North America. Release