Shire appoints new company chairman

Shire has announced the selection of Susan Kilsby as its next company chair, effective as of the conclusion of its annual general meeting on April 29th 2014.

Ms Kilsby is the firm's current audit, compliance and risk committee chair, a role she will vacate after becoming chairman of the board. She will be succeeded in this post by Dominic Blakemore.

The new chair joined the Shire board as a non-executive director in September 2011, following a distinguished global career in investment banking. She is also set to become a member of the organisation's nomination committee from February 1st 2014.

Ms Kilsby has been appointed as the successor to the retiring Matthew Emmens, a former Shire chief executive officer who is leaving the company he first joined in 2003.

David Kappler, Shire's deputy chairman, senior independent non-executive director and nomination committee chairman, said: "I would like to thank Matt Emmens for his many contributions to Shire during the last decade.  Susan will build on the strong current board dynamics and will make an excellent chairman."

Earlier this month, the company announced the divestiture of its Dermagraft assets to Organogenesis, as part of ongoing efforts to refine its strategic focus.