Biogen Idec elects Marijn E Dekkers to board of directors

Biogen Idec has announced the election of Marijn E Dekkers, current president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fischer Scientific, at its annual shareholders meeting held at the end of last month.

Mr Dekkers started his career as a research scientist at General Electric before being employed in a number of executive roles at Honeywell International.

He then joined Thermo Electron in July 2000 as chief operating officer before being promoted to president and chief executive officer of the firm in November 2002. Thermo Electron merged with Fischer Scientific International four years later, with Mr Dekkers taking the role of president and chief executive officer of the newly formed company.

James C Mullen, president and chief executive officer of Biogen Idec, said: “Marijn Dekkers has the scientific background and proven business skills to provide strategic leadership and guidance as we build on our record of growth and success in delivering significant therapies for patients.”

Bruce Ross, chairman of the firm, added that Mr Dekkers’ previous experience at Thermo Electron would enable him to bring a vital understanding of the means of taking business opportunities in order to uphold a position of leadership in the pharmaceutical industry.

Earlier this month, Biogen Idec announced that its board of directors had authorised the use of a modified Dutch auction process to conduct a $3 billion (1.51 billion pound) share repurchase programme.