People on the move: pharma jobs

in-PharmaTechnologist presents its round-ups of the latest pharmaceutical appointments, including news from Alegeta, Zealand, Otexs and TYRX.

Algeta has appointed Mike Booth as senior VP, communications and corporate affairs.

Booth joins the Oslo, Norway-based company from life sciences investors Trout International.

In his new role, he will take charge of Algeta’s corporate communications as well as investor relations activities.

He said: “I am very pleased to be joining Algeta, at a time when it is approaching a key inflection point in its corporate development.

“Algeta’s pipeline of novel TTCs (Targeted Thorium Conjugates), based on its unique Thorium platform, could improve the efficacy of targeted anti-cancer agents and illustrates the additional future potential of the Company."

Arvind Hundal has become the new senior VP, chief business officer for peptides development company Zealand Pharma.

The Danish company says that Hundal’s new role – a move from her current position as their VP of business development, since 2009 – will strengthen their executive management team.

David H. Solomon, president and CEO of Zealand Pharma, said: “Arvind has been instrumental in the success of Zealand Pharma's business development activities, most recently for the agreement that we signed with Boehringer Ingelheim in June this year.

“Active partnering is a cornerstone of our business, and I am pleased that Arvind now joins Zealand's Executive Management team where her deep understanding of the international life sciences industry and her skills and broad-based experience in licensing will help to ensure that we maximize the value of our drug pipeline.”

Carole Ben-Maimon will take the reigns as president of Global Pharmaceuticals, Impax Laboratories’ generic pharmaceutical division.

Ben-Maimon will be responsible for expanding Global Pharmaceuticals’ capabilities both in the US and globally.

She was most recently senior VP, corporate strategy consulting to the president, chief executive officer and investors at Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Ben-Maimon said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to devote my talents and experience to help the generics business grow.

“Impax has already distinguished itself with technological innovation and I believe we can capitalize on the rare capability even further through careful product selection and strategic investments and partnerships."

Gary Hockstra will move from his position as VP and site director of Dow Texas Operations to his new role as VP of manufacturing, engineering and EH&S for the Dow Advanced Materials Division.

Hockstra will switch location with current VP and site director of Dow Michigan Operations Earl Shipp.

Of his move Hockstra said: “Leading Texas Operations has been one of the highlights of my Dow career.

“It was a privilege to work with such an outstanding group of employees, retirees and community stakeholders every day.

“I’m going to really miss working at this site, but I’m very excited to be a part of Dow Advanced Materials.”

Nicholas Edwards has been appointed chairman of the newly created self-inflating tissue expanders company Oxtexs.

He comes to the company from Accenture, formerly Anderson Consulting, where he spent 18 years moving up through the ranks to becoming global leader of the pharmaceutical R&D business, as well as partner.

Edwards is also chairman of MedInnovate and Kinapse.

He said: “I am delighted to take on the role of Chairman of Oxtexs. This technology has great potential for widespread clinical use in some of the most complex and demanding surgical operations.

“We are very excited about this technology and are confident that it will lead to big improvements in outcomes for patients.”

TYRX has beefed-up its leadership team with the additions of Fernando Ochoa and Susan Olinger.

Ochoa, the new VP of sales, has 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries, including sales leadership roles with the Sorin Group, Medtronic and Genentech.

And VP of regulatory affairs Olinger joins the team from her job as corporate VP of B. Braun Medical.

“Fernando and Susan bring tremendous industry experience and proven leadership, both complementing and strengthening our exceptional management team,” said Robert S. White, President and CEO. “Their deep experience in the medical device and combination products fields will enable TYRX to continue to build momentum with its unique, market leading, therapies aimed at reducing the risk of device related infections.”