Big changes are coming to INC Research's corporate office in 2013. The North Carolina CRO announced that Chief Operating Officer Jamie Macdonald will assume the role of CEO beginning next year, marking one of three C-level promotions within the company.
Macdonald will succeed current CEO James Ogle, who will continue to serve INC as company chairman. Moving into Macdonald's spot as COO is Alistair Macdonald, INC's head of clinical development services (despite sharing the same surname, the Macdonalds aren't related, Jamie told the The News & Observer). All three are poised to assume their new roles Jan. 1, according to a company release, after the recent promotions of Neil Ferguson and Christopher Gaenzle to executive vice president of business development and general counsel, respectively.
Ogle, Jamie Macdonald and Alistair Macdonald have spent a combined 60 years in the CRO and biopharma industries. Former Army officer Ogle joined INC as a board member in 2003, fostering the company's buyout of Kendle in 2011. Under Ogle's watch, INC grew from 225 employees to almost 5,000 across 6 continents.
Jamie Macdonald joined INC when the CRO bought rival Kendle, and previously served in a number of senior positions at Quintiles. Alistair Macdonald began his tenure at INC in 2002, serving the company in several positions, from executive VP of business development and marketing, to senior VP of biometrics.
Unlike a recent C-level appointment at Quintiles, INC looked to its own for new leadership. As INC spokeswoman Lori Dorer told FierceCRO via email Monday, Ogle's poised successor made a lasting impression on him in the aftermath of the Kendle acquisition.
"[Ogle] noted that he worked closely with Jamie during the integration process and was so impressed that he recommended to the board of directors that Macdonald was the right person to succeed him," Dorer said.
- here's the INC release
- learn more from The News & Observer
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from Lori Dorer, spokeswoman for INC Research.