Elan appoints new board members

Elan has announced the appointment of two new members of its board of directors, with the selection of Jonas Frick and Giles Kerr to take immediate effect.

Mr Frick was formerly the chief executive officer of investment firm Scandinavian Life Science Ventures, having previously been employed in the same role of biotechnology company Medivir.

Currently director of finance at the University of Oxford and a fellow of Keble College, Mr Kerr is also employed as a director of Isis Innovation and Victrex, where he is also chairman of the audit committee.

Kyran McLaughlin, chairman of Elan, and Kieran McGowan, lead independent director, issued a joint statement regarding these appointments.

“We are delighted to welcome Mr Frick and Mr Kerr to our board,” they said

“Their experience and enthusiasm will add greatly to the overall board and to the company.”

They added that this appointment marks further progression in the development of the makeup of the company’s board of directors to encompass a desired mix of industry experience and range of backgrounds.

Last month, Elan reported that Dr Lasr Ekman, president of research and development at the firm, would move from this position to an advisory role as director at the end of 2007.