Changes to CSL Senior Executive Group
VICTORIA, Australia, Dec. 8, 2009-
CSL Limited (ASX:CSL), Australia's leading biopharmaceutical company, announced today a number of changes in its organisation structure and its senior executive group, within the context that Dr Brian McNamee would be continuing as CEO and Managing Director for at least a further three to four years.
Following a period of outstanding leadership, Mr. Peter Turner will become Chief Operating Officer, CSL Group effective 1 January 2010 and will join the CSL Board as an Executive Director effective immediately, while continuing as President of CSL Behring, Mr. Turner will continue to be based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Mr. Turner brings to the Board exceptional industry knowledge having been with CSL for over 40 years, initially in Australia, later in Switzerland and most recently in the United States. He led the construction and operation of the Melbourne Broadmeadows manufacturing facility, played a key role in the integration of the ZLB, NABI and Aventis Behring international acquisitions and since 2004 has successfully led CSL Behring, the major operating arm of the CSL Group, through an era of expansion and significant revenue growth.
Mr. Tony Cipa has advised the Company that he will retire from his position as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer in October 2010. At that time, he will be replaced as Chief Financial Officer by Mr. Gordon Naylor and will stand down from the CSL Board. Mr. Cipa will remain available to CSL in an advisory capacity until March 2011.
Mr. Cipa joined CSL in 1990 and has been Chief Financial Officer through its expansion into an international company, now among the top 15 companies by market capitalisation on the Australian Securities Exchange.
"Tony is leaving a great legacy in terms of a healthy balance sheet and a financially sound Company with the means and appetite for further growth." Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of CSL Dr Brian McNamee said today His successor, Mr. Gordon Naylor will take the position CFO Designate from January 2010 returning to Australia from the United States where he currently holds the position of Executive Vice President, Plasma, Supply Chain and Chief Information Officer, CSL Behring. Mr. Naylor has 22 years service with CSL in Australia, Europe and the United States. He has held a number of specialist, operations and general management roles, has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions and risk management, and was instrumental in the transformation of the CSL Plasma business. He graduated from the University of Melbourne and holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School.
Mr Naylor will be replaced in his current role by Dr. Karen Etchberger, who recently returned to the United States from Bern after three years as Global Head of Quality for CSL Behring.
To support Peter Turner as he takes on his new Board and global operations responsibilities, his Executive Team has been strengthened through changes to three of his executive management team roles: • Mr. Paul Perreault, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations CSL Behring, currently has strategic and operational responsibility for sales and marketing into 27 countries. Following a period of successful growth into new markets, he will take a broader leadership responsibility from January 2010 with his current international responsibilities expanded to include CSL Behring Business Development - incorporating product development and acquisition opportunities. At the same time his team will be strengthened by the addition of a new position, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, North America.
- Ms. Mary Sontrop will be joining CSL Behring in King of Prussia in a new role, Executive Vice President, CSL Behring Operations from April 2010.
Ms. Sontrop is currently General Manager, CSL Biotherapies Australia, having previously headed CSL Behring's manufacturing facilities at Marburg (Germany) and Bern (Switzerland). In her new role she will have overall responsibility for the Marburg, Bern and Kankakee (USA) manufacturing facilities.
- Dr. Russell Basser, formerly the Director of Clinical Research and Development at CSL Limited, has recently been appointed to the new position of Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Research and Development. In this role, Dr. Basser has responsibility for all clinical activities within both CSL Limited and CSL Behring. He has joined the CSL Behring Executive Management Team and reports jointly to Mr. Turner and to Melbourne-based Dr. Andrew Cuthbertson, CSL Limited R & D Director and CSL Group Chief Scientist.
In Australia, the businesses currently operating as CSL Biotherapies and CSL Bioplasma, with manufacturing facilities in Melbourne at Parkville and Broadmeadows, will be merged to form a single operating entity which will be known as CSL Biotherapies. The integration represents the final stage in a longterm project to introduce efficiencies and expertise into CSL's Australian businesses to ensure their long-term growth and prosperity in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Dr. Jeff Davies, currently General Manager, CSL Bioplasma will take the new and expanded role of Executive Vice President, CSL Biotherapies from January 2010 reporting primarily to the CEO Dr. Brian McNamee. Dr. Davies will also be responsible for building stronger interaction between the Australian production facilities and those of CSL Behring, and therefore will jointly report to Mr. Turner.
Dr Davies brings 25 years of experience at CSL to his new role, including senior roles in R & D in Australia and Switzerland, and the management of CSL Bioplasma over the last three years.
"These changes signal increased alignment of our international operations which have grown through a number of successful acquisitions. We are strengthening the future of the Australian businesses as well as supporting our continuous drive for operational excellence." Dr McNamee explained.
"The merging of the Australian businesses in particular provides a platform for future sustainability and the opportunity for a greater contribution to the growth of the global company from Australia." "The senior executive moves are part of our long term approach to succession.
The Company's bench strength is maximised by building a group of senior leaders with experience in operating both across geographies and divisions, and with deep knowledge of the industry. I congratulate my colleagues on their new roles and look forward to working with them through the challenges and opportunities of the next few years." Miss. Elizabeth Alexander, Chairman CSL Limited, welcomed Mr. Turner onto the CSL Board and acknowledged the outstanding contribution made to CSL by Mr. Cipa. "I am delighted that the Board will have the benefit of Peter's experience and the depth of his industry knowledge", Miss Alexander said today.
"In addition I want to recognise Tony as an outstanding Chief Financial Officer, who has very skilfully managed the Company's financial affairs and has played an important role in the various acquisitions that have created the CSL Group. The Board are very appreciative of his contribution to the Company and he will leave with our best wishes for the future."
For more information about CSL Limited, visit www.csl.com.au
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