Actelion appoints coo and extends executive committee

Adapts management to meet the needs of a growing organisation

Actelion has appointed Otto Schwarz as chief operating officer (COO).

Schwarz joined the Swiss biopharmaceutical firm in 2008 as head of business strategy and operations. In addition to commercial operations and business strategy he takes responsibility for corporate services, global quality management and corporate communications, with all three departments retaining their respective heads.

Actelion has also adapted its Executive Committee (AEC), chaired by chief executive Jean-Paul Clozel, to the needs of a growing organisation and to strengthen leadership and governance.

The AEC members include Clozel and Schwarz, plus chief financial officer Andrew Oakley, head of global clinical development Guy Braunstein and chief business development officer Nicholas Franco.

In addition to this core group, the extended AEC includes Christian Albrich (head global human resources), Marian Borovsky (group general counsel), Martine Clozel (chief scientific officer) and Roland Haefeli (head investor relations and public affairs).

In addition, Isaac Kobrin, previously chief medical officer, will take up a new role to plan and ultimately lead a biotech start-up separate from Actelion that will undertake the clinical development of its non-core compounds.

Simon Buckingham, previously head global corporate and business development, will also take up a new role (on a part-time basis) leading special projects and advising on corporate strategic matters.

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