UCB announces executive committee changes

UCB has announced a number of changes to the makeup of its executive committee.

The company has announced the planned retirement of Bill Robinson as executive vice-president of global operations, which will take effect on December 31st 2008.

He will be replaced by Mark McDade, who first joined the firm in April 2008 as executive vice-president of corporate strategy and business development and worked in close partnership with Mr Robinson.

Furthermore, executive vice-president of technical operations and quality assurance Michele Antonelli has been appointed as a member of the executive committee.

Mr Antonelli joined the firm in June 2008 as a replacement for Michel Lurquin and has over 15 years experience in the quality assurance and biotech manufacturing fields from his prior roles at Serono.

Roch Doliveux, chief executive officer of UCB, said “Michele and Mark – with their leadership and proven experience in business and operations – will certainly contribute to UCB’s success.”

He added his thanks to Mr Robinson who has contributed to the transformation of UCB, leading the companies operations for three years of growth and strengthening its leadership team while preparing new product launches.

Last month, UCB announced the initiation of its Shape restructuring programme to make the company better focused on central nervous system diseases and immunology.