LONDON, July 27, 2007--Silence Therapeutics announces that it has appointed Jeffery Scott Vick as Group CEO in order to strengthen its core management team as the Company seeks to expand its business partnerships.
Jeff Vick (45) is a B.S. chemistry graduate of the University of Virginia, USA, has a Masters Degree in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Jeff has extensive international experience having worked in senior positions in the healthcare industry in both Europe and the USA. In his early career he gained experience as a business analyst and biotech venture capitalist and importantly he worked in the drug delivery sector for five years in senior management roles with DepoTech Corporation in the USA.
From 1998-2001, as Vice President Corporate Development for Cytovia Inc he was responsible for negotiating multi-million dollar collaborations in the biotech sector. In 2001 he moved to Europe to take up an appointment as Vice President Business Development at Genset S.A., which was subsequently sold to Serono at a substantial premium. In 2003 Jeff was appointed Vice President Corporate Development and Intellectual Property of Centelion SAS, which now is owned by Sanofi Aventis. There is no further information required to be disclosed under Schedule 2 paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules.
Jeff joins the Company with effect from today and will be based in London and work closely with Iain Ross, who will continue in his role as Executive Chairman. Jeff Vick has been granted options over 1,500,000 ordinary shares in Silence Therapeutics plc at an exercise price of 127p per share, being the mid-market price of the shares at the close of business on the day before his appointment.
Iain Ross, Executive Chairman of Silence Therapeutics plc, said:
"Following an extensive worldwide search we are absolutely delighted that an individual of Jeff's calibre and ambition has agreed to take up the appointment as Group CEO of Silence Therapeutics plc. This Company is operating in one of the 'hottest' sectors and has ongoing discussions on its RNAi technology across a wide variety of initiatives in terms of R&D collaborations, licensing and M&A. Jeff has the relevant corporate, business, operational, science and Intellectual Property experience we need to ensure we capitalise upon these opportunities to enhance shareholder value."
Jeff Vick, Group CEO of Silence Therapeutics plc commented:
"The RNAi space is the most exciting new area in pharmaceutical drug discovery. Silence's proprietary RNAi and drug delivery technologies ensure the Company has the potential to bridge the gap from functional genomic information to create a new class of effective human therapeutic products. I am thrilled to take up the position of CEO of Silence Therapeutics plc and have the opportunity to work with Iain Ross and the Board of Directors to take the Company to the next level."