MANUFACTURERS
Richard Gonzalez, president and COO, and a member of Abbott’s board of directors, plans to retire after his 30-year career with the company. Gonzalez will remain with Abbott until Sept. 30. Upon his retirement, the heads of Abbott’s four operating businesses — medical devices, pharmaceuticals, nutritionals and diagnostics — will report directly to Miles White, chairman and CEO, Abbott.
Neuromed Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing new and improved chronic pain drugs, announced that Mario Orlando has joined the company as VP of marketing, a newly created position.Orlando brings to Neuromed more than 25 years of marketing and sales experience of major medicines. Orlando was most recently at Wyeth as the executive director of Rapamune Global Strategy, in charge of global marketing and commercial strategy of Rapamune, an immunosuppressant drug for the prevention of transplant rejection. Prior to Wyeth, Orlando held senior marketing roles with Genentech, Glaxo and Eli Lilly and has been responsible for the sales and marketing of such brands as Activase, Pulmozyme Ventolin, Flonase, Fortaz, and Humulin. At Neuromed, Orlando will be responsible for precommercial and commercialization activities in preparation for the U.S. launch of NMED-1077 (OROS(R) Hydromorphone) and other Neuromed products, upon Food & FDA approval.
Semafore Pharmaceuticals, announced the appointment of Edward Jacobs as president and CEO. Semafore interim CEO John Sima will resume his position as COO and CFO and Dr. Joseph Garlich continues as Semafore’s chief scientific officer. Jacobs joins Semafore from cancer drug developer SuperGen, where he advanced from head of sales and operations to chief business and financial officer and then to chief operating officer, the second ranking executive position in the company.
AGENCIES
Seidler Bernstein announced the promotion of three veteran creative and client service professionals. Gary Duffy has been promoted to VP/executive director, client services from his prior position as executive director, client services. Kathie Coe Renner has been promoted to VP/executive director, creative services from her prior position as executive creative director. Rob Kinslow has been promoted to VP, strategic communications from senior director, QA/communications. Kinslow joined the agency in 1998 as creative director, copy. In his new role, he oversees communication integrity for Seidler Bernstein’s clients, including brand planning and strategy, editorial and creative copy review, client counsel and new business development.
/alert Marketing announced that Kate Drinkwine has joined as an account manager.
Lanmark Group hired Kim Woodward as bookkeeper. In this position, Woodward will be responsible for verifying and measuring the accuracy of business transactions such as checks, account statements, reports, records, and reviews. Woodward was previously employed in an accounts payable position at EPS (Engineering and Professional Services.)
