Chutes & Ladders: Novartis loses U.S. head Christi Shaw

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 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

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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

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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

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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