ProStrakan appoints new chief executive

ProStrakan has announced that Dr Tom Stratford is to become its new permanent chief executive from September 1st 2011.

Dr Stratford is the son of Harry Stratford – the co-founder of ProStrakan – and has been with the company since 1997, currently serving in the role of executive vice-president for business development.

He will take over the chief executive position from Peter Allen, who has been filling the role on an interim basis since last September and will subsequently revert to his prior status as non-executive chairman.

This comes after ProStrakan was acquired by the Japanese pharmaceutical firm Kyowa Hakko Kirin (KHK), a deal which was completed in April 2011.

Mr Allen stated that this appointment is indicative of KHK's intent to allow ProStrakan to continue to operate as a standalone business unit.

Dr Stratford added: "I look forward to helping ProStrakan to fulfil its promise as the springboard for KHK's future success in Europe and the US as we bring KHK's pipeline of innovative products to market."