Leading global pharmaceutical outsourcing provider PCI Pharma Services has appointed Chris Blanton as Vice President of Global Operations Strategy and Program Management Office (PMO).
Based at PCI’s corporate headquarters in Philadelphia, PA, Chris is leading significant strategic programmes such as serialisation, facility expansions across PCI’s global networks, and acquisition integration as PCI builds additional capabilities through strategic additions.
He is also leading capital project initiatives, working with PCI leadership to develop and lead execution of its three to five-year operations growth strategy across its clinical, commercial packaging and manufacturing business segments.
Chris is also overseeing the final phases of implementation of PCI’s Serialisation programme, with readiness for the US and EU markets, as well as global emerging market supply.
“Chris brings with him an extensive set of skills and knowledge that will help PCI ensure timely implementation and disciplined execution of our programs in realising our global strategies,” stated Brad Payne, PCI Senior Vice President of Operations.
His commitment to driving and improving the core operational areas of the business aligns with our vision to provide the industry’s leading customer experience for our clients. This is invaluable as we look to continually grow and expand in order to support life-saving medicines for patients around the world.”
Chris has joined PCI with extensive experience, having held various roles across the healthcare operations and supply chain sector. This includes experience at market-leading healthcare companies such as Olympus Surgical, where he held the role of Executive Director of Operations, and CareFusion, where he was Director of Manufacturing.
Chris also has a proven track record of driving transformational improvements in the key operational areas of safety, quality, delivery and cost. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Citadel, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from North Carolina State University.
Chris’ appointment reflects PCI’s commitment to ongoing expansion and investment in its global service offering. PCI continues to make considerable year-over-year infrastructure investment, including noteworthy capacity expansion. The Philadelphia facility has recently undertaken an expansion of the site’s 2-8°C Cold Chain storage, complementing expansive Cold Chain capabilities across PCI’s commercial and Clinical supply network worldwide.
PCI also announced the completion and opening of a new building at its Bridgend Clinical Services center of excellence in support of business growth, particularly in temperature controlled investigational medicines including refrigerated, frozen and cryogenic temperatures, down to -196°C. In April 2018, PCI’s Dublin facility launched its brand-new, state-of-the-art high containment packaging suite for supporting segregated packaging of potent compounds, complementing its US facility as well as its market leading and award winning contained manufacturing center of excellence in Tredegar, Wales. The Tredegar location also recently completed an extensive analytical laboratory expansion to support expedited drug development.
PCI has also been active in acquiring additional capacity and capabilities. In March 2018, PCI completed the acquisition of Pharmaceutical Packaging Professionals in Melbourne, Australia, and in October last year, announced the acquisition of contract packaging services provider Millmount Healthcare based in Dublin, Ireland, a member of the European Union, underpinning PCI’s position as a true global leader in the pharmaceutical packaging industry.
